The world is populated with many different objects, to which we often attribute properties: we say, for example, that grass is green, that the earth is spherical, that humans are animals, and that murder is wrong. We also take it that these properties are things in their own right: there is something in which being green, or spherical, or an animal, or wrong, consists, and that certain scientific or normative projects are engaged in uncovering the essences of such properties. In light of this, an important question arises: what kind of things should we take properties themselves to be? In Properties, Douglas Edwards gives an engaging, accessible, and up-to-date introduction to the many theories of properties available. Edwards charts the central positions in the debate over properties, including the views that properties are universals, that properties are constructed from tropes, and that properties are classes of objects, and assesses the benefits and disadvantages of each. Attempts to deny the existence of properties are also considered, along with pluralist proposals, which aim to accommodate the different kinds of properties that are found in various philosophical debates. Properties is the ideal introduction to this topic and will be an invaluable resource for scholars and students wishing to learn more about the important roles that properties have played, and continue to play, in contemporary philosophy.

The world is populated with many different objects, to which weoften attribute properties: we say, for example, that grass isgreen, that the earth is spherical, that humans are animals, andthat murder is wrong. We also take it that these properties arethings in their own right: there is something in which being greenor spherical, or an animal, or wrong, consists, and that certainscientific or normative projects are engaged in uncovering theessences of such properties. In light of this, an importantquestion arises: what kind of things should we take propertiesthemselves to be?In Properties, Douglas Edwards gives an engagingaccessible, and up-to-date introduction to the many theories ofproperties available. Edwards charts the central positions in thedebate over properties, including the views that properties areuniversals, that properties are constructed from tropes, and thatproperties are classes of objects, and assesses the benefits anddisadvantages of each. Attempts to deny the existence of propertiesare also considered, along with 'pluralist' proposalswhich aim to accommodate the different kinds of properties that arefound in various philosophical debates.Properties is the ideal introduction to this topic and willbe an invaluable resource for scholars and students wishing tolearn more about the important roles that properties have playedand continue to play, in contemporary philosophy.

Preface x1 Introducing Properties 11.1 Why Think that There Are Properties? 11.2 What Is a Theory of Properties? 81.3 A Methodological Strategy 81.4 The Jobs Properties Do 91.5 Definitions and Terminological Notes 111.6 Further Reading 142 Universals 162.1 Introduction 162.2 Transcendental Universals 162.3 Immanent Universals 282.4 Further Reading 463 Tropes 483.1 Introduction 483.2 The Basic Idea 493.3 Tropes and Causation 513.4 Properties as Sets of Tropes 533.5 The Relation between Objects and Tropes 543.6 Accounting for Resemblance between Tropes 613.7 Tropes and Universals 643.8 Further Reading 674 Properties Eliminated? 684.1 Introduction 684.2 Russell and Quine on Ontological Commitment 694.3 Ostrich Nominalism 714.4 Primitive Predication 734.5 Paraphrase 744.6 Objects and Properties 774.7 A Revised One Over Many Problem 784.8 Implications for Ostrich Nominalism 804.9 Implications for Universals and Tropes 804.10 Further Reading 845 Varieties of Nominalism 855.1 Introduction 855.2 Predicate and Concept Nominalism 865.3 Class Nominalism 945.4 Mereological Nominalism 1005.5 Resemblance Nominalism 1045.6 Chapter Summary 1105.7 Further Reading 1116 Pluralist Views of Properties 1126.1 Introduction 1126.2 The Distinction between Abundant and Natural Properties 1146.3 Grounding the Distinction: Universals, Tropes and Primitive Naturalness 1186.4 Degrees of Naturalness: Supervenience, Definability and Grounding 1216.5 Universals, Tropes and Degrees of Naturalness 1286.6 Graded versus Egalitarian Conceptions of Naturalness 1306.7 Chapter Summary 1356.8 Further Reading 1367 Kinds of Properties 1377.1 Introduction 1377.2 Methodology: Descriptive and Prescriptive Metaphysics 1387.3 Mathematical Properties 1407.4 Mental Properties 1447.5 Moral Properties 1487.6 Chapter Summary 1577.7 Further Reading 158Conclusion 159Notes 164References 169Index 177