The PhilPapers SurveysHighest linear correlations (Back to contents)

Correlations with: Abstract objects:Platonism

N = 931 (target faculty). Cut-off = +/-0.05

n < 10 omitted. Some redundant or trivial correlations are not shown.

Jump to: Main Survey questions | Philosophical orientation | Background questions

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Main Survey questions

Answer Corrrelation coefficient
Meta-ethics:moral realism0.335
moral realism moral anti-realism
Platonism
74.5%(269/361)
18.8%(68/361)
nominalism
44.3%(182/410)
46.3%(190/410)
Response pairs: 860   p-value: < 0.001
Knowledge:rationalism0.307
rationalism empiricism
Platonism
51.3%(188/366)
29.2%(107/366)
nominalism
22.2%(95/427)
55.2%(236/427)
Response pairs: 885   p-value: < 0.001
Knowledge claims:invariantism0.26
invariantism not invariantism
Platonism
51%(170/333)
39%(130/333)
nominalism
26.2%(95/362)
64.6%(234/362)
Response pairs: 776   p-value: < 0.001
Metaphilosophy:non-naturalism0.26
non-naturalism naturalism
Platonism
40.9%(140/342)
44.1%(151/342)
nominalism
21.2%(85/400)
66.7%(267/400)
Response pairs: 830   p-value: < 0.001
Science:scientific realism0.255
scientific realism scientific anti-realism
Platonism
87%(316/363)
8.8%(32/363)
nominalism
69.1%(291/421)
22.5%(95/421)
Response pairs: 877   p-value: < 0.001
A priori knowledge:yes0.248
no yes
Platonism
9.5%(35/368)
85.3%(314/368)
nominalism
27.7%(118/425)
63.7%(271/425)
Response pairs: 883   p-value: < 0.001
Moral judgment:cognitivism0.24
cognitivism non-cognitivism
Platonism
83.6%(291/348)
11.2%(39/348)
nominalism
62%(250/403)
28.7%(116/403)
Response pairs: 840   p-value: < 0.001
Aesthetic value:objective0.236
objective subjective
Platonism
57.5%(206/358)
30.1%(108/358)
nominalism
35.9%(149/415)
48.9%(203/415)
Response pairs: 864   p-value: < 0.001
Laws of nature:non-Humean0.234
non-Humean Humean
Platonism
74.7%(263/352)
18.4%(65/352)
nominalism
50.7%(204/402)
39.3%(158/402)
Response pairs: 839   p-value: < 0.001
not Knowledge claims:contextualism0.209
contextualism not contextualism
Platonism
35.4%(118/333)
54.6%(182/333)
nominalism
57.7%(209/362)
33.1%(120/362)
Response pairs: 776   p-value: < 0.001
Truth:correspondence0.198
correspondence not correspondence
Platonism
65.2%(227/348)
30.1%(105/348)
nominalism
46.2%(185/400)
48%(192/400)
Response pairs: 837   p-value: < 0.001
Mind:non-physicalism0.19
non-physicalism physicalism
Platonism
36.8%(134/364)
50.2%(183/364)
nominalism
21.8%(93/426)
68.7%(293/426)
Response pairs: 883   p-value: < 0.001
not Truth:deflationary0.175
deflationary not deflationary
Platonism
19.8%(69/348)
75.5%(263/348)
nominalism
33.2%(133/400)
61%(244/400)
Response pairs: 837   p-value: < 0.001
External world:non-skeptical realism0.148
non-skeptical realism not non-skeptical realism
Platonism
87.3%(318/364)
9%(33/364)
nominalism
79%(333/421)
17.5%(74/421)
Response pairs: 880   p-value: < 0.001
Analytic-synthetic distinction:yes0.146
yes no
Platonism
73.4%(269/366)
22.4%(82/366)
nominalism
60.2%(256/425)
34.8%(148/425)
Response pairs: 885   p-value: < 0.001
Free will:libertarianism0.143
libertarianism not libertarianism
Platonism
20.8%(74/355)
70.7%(251/355)
nominalism
10.4%(44/420)
81.1%(341/420)
Response pairs: 864   p-value: < 0.001
Logic:classical0.126
non-classical classical
Platonism
19.7%(67/340)
66.4%(226/340)
nominalism
28.4%(104/366)
60.1%(220/366)
Response pairs: 786   p-value: < 0.001
Zombies:metaphysically possible0.125
metaphysically possible not metaphysically possible
Platonism
34%(115/338)
55.6%(188/338)
nominalism
20.8%(79/379)
64.1%(243/379)
Response pairs: 798   p-value: < 0.001
Normative ethics:deontology0.125
deontology not deontology
Platonism
38.2%(122/319)
48.9%(156/319)
nominalism
24.8%(92/370)
62.4%(231/370)
Response pairs: 769   p-value: < 0.001
not Zombies:inconceivable0.123
inconceivable not inconceivable
Platonism
13.3%(45/338)
76.3%(258/338)
nominalism
21.6%(82/379)
63.3%(240/379)
Response pairs: 798   p-value: < 0.001
not External world:skepticism0.123
skepticism not skepticism
Platonism
2.4%(9/364)
93.9%(342/364)
nominalism
7.3%(31/421)
89.3%(376/421)
Response pairs: 880   p-value: < 0.001
not Truth:epistemic0.118
epistemic not epistemic
Platonism
5.4%(19/348)
89.9%(313/348)
nominalism
9.5%(38/400)
84.7%(339/400)
Response pairs: 837   p-value: < 0.001
God:theism0.116
theism atheism
Platonism
19.5%(71/363)
72.1%(262/363)
nominalism
12.4%(53/425)
79.5%(338/425)
Response pairs: 883   p-value: < 0.001
Time:A-theory0.105
A-theory B-theory
Platonism
35.8%(89/248)
44.7%(111/248)
nominalism
25.8%(69/267)
48.6%(130/267)
Response pairs: 574   p-value: 0.011
Moral motivation:externalism0.098
internalism externalism
Platonism
40.1%(124/309)
44%(136/309)
nominalism
50.2%(178/354)
33.6%(119/354)
Response pairs: 741   p-value: 0.007
Mental content:externalism0.094
externalism internalism
Platonism
63.6%(222/349)
24.3%(85/349)
nominalism
56%(221/394)
28.1%(111/394)
Response pairs: 830   p-value: 0.006
Personal identity:further-fact view0.088
further-fact view not further-fact view
Platonism
18.3%(59/321)
65.1%(209/321)
nominalism
12.4%(47/379)
66.4%(252/379)
Response pairs: 783   p-value: 0.013
Perceptual experience:qualia theory0.079
qualia theory not qualia theory
Platonism
19.3%(60/310)
69.6%(216/310)
nominalism
12.6%(41/325)
70.4%(229/325)
Response pairs: 697   p-value: 0.037
Politics:communitarianism0.063
communitarianism not communitarianism
Platonism
20.7%(60/289)
61.5%(178/289)
nominalism
15.3%(55/358)
70.1%(251/358)
Response pairs: 722   p-value: 0.09
Trolley problem:don't switch0.061
don't switch switch
Platonism
10.7%(37/345)
76.5%(264/345)
nominalism
7%(28/397)
78.3%(311/397)
Response pairs: 831   p-value: 0.078
not Personal identity:psychological view0.06
psychological view not psychological view
Platonism
37.3%(120/321)
46.1%(148/321)
nominalism
39%(148/379)
39.8%(151/379)
Response pairs: 783   p-value: 0.093
not Politics:egalitarianism0.057
egalitarianism not egalitarianism
Platonism
39.1%(113/289)
43.2%(125/289)
nominalism
47.2%(169/358)
38.2%(137/358)
Response pairs: 722   p-value: 0.125
Epistemic justification:internalism0.054
externalism internalism
Platonism
49.2%(173/351)
33%(116/351)
nominalism
53.2%(213/400)
30%(120/400)
Response pairs: 839   p-value: 0.118

Philosophical orientation

Answer Corrrelation coefficient
xian:Plato0.174
Plato not Plato
Platonism
7.8%(29/368)
92.1%(339/368)
nominalism
0.9%(4/431)
99%(427/431)
Response pairs: 894   p-value: < 0.001
AOS:Ancient Greek Philosophy0.16
Ancient Greek Philosophy not Ancient Greek Philosophy
Platonism
11.6%(43/368)
88.3%(325/368)
nominalism
2.7%(12/431)
97.2%(419/431)
Response pairs: 894   p-value: < 0.001
not xian:Hume0.153
Hume not Hume
Platonism
8.1%(30/368)
91.8%(338/368)
nominalism
20.6%(89/431)
79.3%(342/431)
Response pairs: 894   p-value: < 0.001
AOS:Philosophy of Language0.149
Philosophy of Language not Philosophy of Language
Platonism
24.7%(91/368)
75.2%(277/368)
nominalism
13.4%(58/431)
86.5%(373/431)
Response pairs: 894   p-value: < 0.001
AOS:Metaphysics0.136
Metaphysics not Metaphysics
Platonism
32.3%(119/368)
67.6%(249/368)
nominalism
21.3%(92/431)
78.6%(339/431)
Response pairs: 894   p-value: < 0.001
xian:Frege0.135
Frege not Frege
Platonism
11.9%(44/368)
88%(324/368)
nominalism
4.6%(20/431)
95.3%(411/431)
Response pairs: 894   p-value: < 0.001
not AOS:Social and Political Philosophy0.129
Social and Political Philosophy not Social and Political Philosophy
Platonism
5.9%(22/368)
94%(346/368)
nominalism
13.9%(60/431)
86%(371/431)
Response pairs: 894   p-value: < 0.001
not AOS:Philosophy of Biology0.128
Philosophy of Biology not Philosophy of Biology
Platonism
1.3%(5/368)
98.6%(363/368)
nominalism
7.1%(31/431)
92.8%(400/431)
Response pairs: 894   p-value: < 0.001
metasurvey:accuracy0.124
accuracy ≥ median accuracy < median
Platonism
58.1%(50/86)
41.8%(36/86)
nominalism
45.9%(45/98)
54%(53/98)
Response pairs: 203   p-value: 0.077
xian:Moore0.118
Moore not Moore
Platonism
4.6%(17/368)
95.3%(351/368)
nominalism
0.9%(4/431)
99%(427/431)
Response pairs: 894   p-value: < 0.001
not AOS:General Philosophy of Science0.109
General Philosophy of Science not General Philosophy of Science
Platonism
6.5%(24/368)
93.4%(344/368)
nominalism
13.9%(60/431)
86%(371/431)
Response pairs: 894   p-value: 0.001
AOS:Philosophy of Mathematics0.107
Philosophy of Mathematics not Philosophy of Mathematics
Platonism
5.9%(22/368)
94%(346/368)
nominalism
2.3%(10/431)
97.6%(421/431)
Response pairs: 894   p-value: 0.001
not AOS:Philosophy of Cognitive Science0.107
Philosophy of Cognitive Science not Philosophy of Cognitive Science
Platonism
3.2%(12/368)
96.7%(356/368)
nominalism
8.5%(37/431)
91.4%(394/431)
Response pairs: 894   p-value: 0.001
not AOS:Philosophy of Gender, Race, and Sexuality0.1
Philosophy of Gender, Race, and Sexuality not Philosophy of Gender, Race, and Sexuality
Platonism
~0.2%(~1/368)
~99.7%(~367/368)
nominalism
2.7%(12/431)
97.2%(419/431)
Response pairs: 894   p-value: 0.002
tradition:analytic0.097
analytic continental
Platonism
91.5%(337/368)
2.7%(10/368)
nominalism
85.8%(370/431)
4.8%(21/431)
Response pairs: 894   p-value: 0.003
not xian:Nietzsche0.094
Nietzsche not Nietzsche
Platonism
~0.2%(~1/368)
~99.7%(~367/368)
nominalism
3.7%(16/431)
96.2%(415/431)
Response pairs: 894   p-value: 0.004
AOS:Epistemology0.092
Epistemology not Epistemology
Platonism
20.3%(75/368)
79.6%(293/368)
nominalism
13.4%(58/431)
86.5%(373/431)
Response pairs: 894   p-value: 0.005
AOS:Logic and Philosophy of Logic0.088
Logic and Philosophy of Logic not Logic and Philosophy of Logic
Platonism
13.3%(49/368)
86.6%(319/368)
nominalism
7.6%(33/431)
92.3%(398/431)
Response pairs: 894   p-value: 0.008
not xian:Kant0.087
Kant not Kant
Platonism
9.2%(34/368)
90.7%(334/368)
nominalism
14.6%(63/431)
85.3%(368/431)
Response pairs: 894   p-value: 0.009
not AOS:Philosophy of Physical Science0.075
Philosophy of Physical Science not Philosophy of Physical Science
Platonism
4%(15/368)
95.9%(353/368)
nominalism
7.8%(34/431)
92.1%(397/431)
Response pairs: 894   p-value: 0.024
xian:Lewis0.074
Lewis not Lewis
Platonism
8.6%(32/368)
91.3%(336/368)
nominalism
5.8%(25/431)
94.1%(406/431)
Response pairs: 894   p-value: 0.026
not AOS:17th/18th Century Philosophy0.069
17th/18th Century Philosophy not 17th/18th Century Philosophy
Platonism
10%(37/368)
89.9%(331/368)
nominalism
14.1%(61/431)
85.8%(370/431)
Response pairs: 894   p-value: 0.039
not xian:Mill0.068
Mill not Mill
Platonism
2.7%(10/368)
97.2%(358/368)
nominalism
5.1%(22/431)
94.8%(409/431)
Response pairs: 894   p-value: 0.042
not AOS:Continental Philosophy0.066
Continental Philosophy not Continental Philosophy
Platonism
1.6%(6/368)
98.3%(362/368)
nominalism
3.9%(17/431)
96%(414/431)
Response pairs: 894   p-value: 0.048
AOS:Asian Philosophy0.059
Asian Philosophy not Asian Philosophy
Platonism
1.9%(7/368)
98%(361/368)
nominalism
~0.2%(~1/431)
~99.7%(~430/431)
Response pairs: 894   p-value: 0.077
not AOS:Normative Ethics0.054
Normative Ethics not Normative Ethics
Platonism
11.9%(44/368)
88%(324/368)
nominalism
15.5%(67/431)
84.4%(364/431)
Response pairs: 894   p-value: 0.106
xian:Russell0.052
Russell not Russell
Platonism
8.6%(32/368)
91.3%(336/368)
nominalism
5.5%(24/431)
94.4%(407/431)
Response pairs: 894   p-value: 0.12
not xian:Wittgenstein0.05
Wittgenstein not Wittgenstein
Platonism
5.9%(22/368)
94%(346/368)
nominalism
9%(39/431)
90.9%(392/431)
Response pairs: 894   p-value: 0.135
not xian:Socrates0.05
Socrates not Socrates
Platonism
~0.2%(~1/368)
~99.7%(~367/368)
nominalism
2%(9/431)
97.9%(422/431)
Response pairs: 894   p-value: 0.135

Background questions

Answer Corrrelation coefficient
gender:male0.115
male female
Platonism
87.1%(305/350)
12.8%(45/350)
nominalism
78%(320/410)
21.9%(90/410)
Response pairs: 849   p-value: < 0.001
not phd_region:Canada0.071
Canada not Canada
Platonism
1.6%(6/368)
98.3%(362/368)
nominalism
3.9%(17/431)
96%(414/431)
Response pairs: 894   p-value: 0.033
phd_region:United States0.063
United States not United States
Platonism
56.5%(208/368)
43.4%(160/368)
nominalism
50.5%(218/431)
49.4%(213/431)
Response pairs: 894   p-value: 0.059
not nationality_region:Europe0.06
Europe not Europe
Platonism
10.3%(38/368)
89.6%(330/368)
nominalism
14.6%(63/431)
85.3%(368/431)
Response pairs: 894   p-value: 0.072