The Problem of Universals: Boethius

Paper Summary:

This paper summarizes Plato's and Aristotle's view on universals and particulars. The main focus, however, is on how Boethius interprets these arguments and forms his own opinion. The author also forms his own opinion on each topic and provides a critical view on the success of each argument.

From the Paper:

"Aristotle has a different notion of how we construct universals. He believes that our ideas about forms are reached "from below". Our understanding about particulars leads us to the understanding of universals. The form does not exist outside of the object but rather in it. The concrete object is the form itself, the abstract idea in our mind is just a definition of it. Aristotle is not perfect though, he tends to switch from using form to describe the substance we use to describe things and that substance has a real existence itself. Either way he disagrees with Plato's idea that forms are things separate from reality. Boethius aligns himself closer to this view and seems to settle without fully resolving the problem."

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