Universal concepts can be defined as some specific things that have similar qualities or characteristics. However, this definition of universals is not sufficient since it does not satisfy all the philosophical parties. Universal concepts are therefore recurrent. Particulars on the other hand, with reference to philosophy, are defined as concrete entities that tend to have some properties as well as numbers. Additionally, universals tend to have some particulars within them. Examples of particulars include a chair, a cat, a table or even a door. In most cases, particulars are seen to be material things (Lin, 2018).
Some of the major philosophers who looked into these universal concepts and particulars in greater details include Plato and Aristotle. Aristotle has individually done a study on the theory of universals whereby he says that universals exist only in things. He further states that the universals tend to be similar in all its instances, that is, its particulars. For example, all black stuff tend to have similar characteristics; this is because they are universal. According to Aristotle, humanity is also a universal concept since it is natural and all human beings have this trait in common.
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The particulars of humans can be looked into in another dimension. Particulars of humans, in this case, are unique things. For instance, any name that is given to someone in particular. These are personal names which are unique according to each person given. However, without a person's history, the memories they have can never make them unique in particular. Another particular in human beings could be the genetic code. The genetic makeup of an individual makes them unique. It is also important to note that particular things do exist. This, therefore, helps in building upon the reason that universals are also present. Determining the existence of particular in humans has been quite a challenge of which is still being studied to date by some philosophers (Russell, 2015).
References
Lin, C. K. (2018). How to Attain Enlightenment through Cognition of Particulars and Universals? In Dao Companion to Chinese Buddhist Philosophy (pp. 245-262). Springer, Dordrecht.
Russell, B. (2015). On the relations of universals and particulars. Lulu Press, Inc.
