In message <000301be5c1e$29c1e5e0$d92929d8@ene09>, Sodom
<sodom@ma.ultranet.com> writes
>
>
>I'll try a different metaphor - how about this.
>
>You have a cube that is painted blue.
...
>In this case "blue" appears abstract
>because of the lack of information to describe the entire object - not
>because it IS abstract.
Nope, "blue" *is* abstract, any way you look at it. Omitting other qualities of blue objects, and then looking around to see what else is blue, is one of the most basic abilities of an intelligent creature, one of the fundamental components of intelligence.
>Abstractions are qualities of physical things that are variable
Qualities are abstractions, true. But then so is "physical things". :-)
-- Robin