Objective precision: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|"objective" aspect of abstraction}}

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Objective precision (latin ''praecisio obiectiva'') is a philosophical term (and concept) used inIn [[scholasticism|latephilosophy]] and especially [[Secondsecond Scholasticismscholasticism]], describing'''objective precision''' ({{langx|la|praecisio obiectiva}}) is the "objective" aspect of [[abstraction]]. Objective precision is the procesprocess by which certain features (the [[differentia|differentiae]]e) of the real object of a [[formal concept]] are excluded from the comprehension of that concept; the object is thus being intentionally transformed into a universal [[objective concept]]. Objective precision is thus a process by which universal objective concepts<ref>{{cite web |last1=Novak |first1=Mgr. Lukas |title=DUNS SCOTUS’S THEORY OF UNIVOCITY |url=http://www.skaut.org/ln/docs/univocity.pdf |website=www.skaut.org |publisher=University of South Bohemia in Budweis (Ceske Budejovice) Czech Republic |access-date=27 March 2024 |date=13 July 2005}}</ref> arise,. itIt is the "objective" aspect of the process of (total) [[abstraction]] or concept-formation.

== Objective precision and formal precision ==

Objective precision is distinguished against [[formal precision]]. Whereas objective precision is a process on the part of objective ''concepts'' (the objective correlates of the mental acts by means of which something is being conceived) formal precision is the corresponding process on the part of formal concepts or the mental ''acts'' themselves. Objective and formal precision are the two aspects (objective and subjective) of abstraction.

== Nominalism and realism ==

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== Ontological requirements on the part of the object ==

The schools are divided in their opinion what constitutes the necessary condition on the part of the object in order that objective precision be possible. According to the [[Thomism|Thomists]] a [[virtual distinction]] on the part of the object between the excluded differentia and the arising abstracted objective concept is sufficient to make objective precision possible. According to the [[Scotism|Scotists]], a [[formal distinction]] is generally required, although certain Scotists (like [[Bartolomeo Mastri]]) regard virtual distinction as sufficient in certain special cases. [[Francisco Suárez|Suárez]] defends objective precision but he deniesrejects any distinctions on the part of the object. The nominalists (conceptualists) agree with the Scotists that a formal distintiondistinction would be necessary to enable objective precision, but since they regard such a distinction as impossible, they reject objective precision altogether.

== See also ==

* [[Abstract object theory]]

==References==

{{Reflist}}

==Sources==

* Daniel Heider, Andersen Claus A. (eds.), ''Cognitive Issues in the Long Scotist Tradition'', Schwabe Verlag, 2023.

[[Category:Abstraction]]

[[Category:Concepts in metaphysics]]

[[Category:Scholasticism]]