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The Problem Of Katholou (Universals) In Aristotle, Riin Sirkel

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

My dissertation focuses on what I call Aristotle’s “problem of katholou ” in order to distinguish it from the “problem of universals” which is traditionally framed as the problem about the ontological status of universals. Aristotle coins the term katholou (traditionally translated as “universal”) and defines it as “that which is by nature predicated of many things". Yet, the traditional focus on the ontological status of universals is not Aristotle’s. His positive remarks about universals remain neutral with regard to their ontological status and escape the standard divide of realism and nominalism. I start with Aristotle’s neutrality and focus on …