What Problem of Universals?

Abstract

What is the Probl em of Universals? In this paper we take up t he cla ssic question and proceed as follows. In Sect. 1 we consider t hree problem solv ing settings and define the notion of problem solving accordingly. Basically I say that to solve problems is to eliminate undesirable, unspecified, or apparently incoherent scenarios. In Sect. 2 we apply the general observations from Sect. 1 to the Problem of Unive rsa l s. Mo re specifically, we single out two accounts of the problem which are based on the idea of eliminating apparently incoherent scenarios, and then propose modifications of those two accounts which, by contrast, are based on the idea of eliminating unspecified scenarios. In Sect. 3 we spell out two interesting ramifications.