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Abstract
The problem of relations has been a persistent one in the history of philosophy. It has been treated extensively by Aristotle who divides relations into two fundamental types, paradigmatic and non-paradigmatic. Scholastic philosophy develops some of the issues present in Aristotle. Scholastic philosophers like Ockham, Duns Scotus and Abelard adopt different positions on the nature of relations and their ontological status. Relations are an important issue in Indian philosophy as well. The Nyaya school adopts a realist stance and the Buddhist adopt a radical nominalism. Both the nominahst and realist approaches, as well as thinking of relations as relational predicates leads to philosophical difficulties. A third alternative has to be suggested which avoids both of these positions.
