Abstract

The task of distinguishing universals from particulars is difficult twice over. It faces a host of first order challenges, since first order proposals about the distinction (e.g. only universals are instantiable, or only universals can be multi-located) tend to be threatened by counterexamples. But it also faces formidable methodological challenges, such as how to decide whether the distinction ought to be exclusive and exhaustive. After discussing the relationships between the distinction and several pairs of pre-philosophical notions, this chapter aims to provide an instructive—albeit non-exhaustive—examination of some principal first order approaches and methodological challenges, respectively.