Predication and extensionalization (Q1029819)

The author agrees with McGinn that (empirical) predicates denote properties rather than sets but shows that this view cannot be justified without ensuring type-congruity: properties are intensions, i.e., functions from possible worlds, and therefore they have to be ``extensionalized'' before being predicated to objects. Bealer's solution, which has it that properties are primitive entities, is analyzed and rejected. Instead, Tichý's approach is accepted and predication, as well as extensionalization, are shown to be instances of functional application.