Single Idea 15445

[catalogued under 9. Objects / C. Structure of Objects / 1. Structure of an Object]

Full Idea

The stuctural universal 'isobutane' consists of the universal carbon four times over, hydrogen ten times over, and the universal 'bonded' thirteen times over - just like the universal 'butane'.

Gist of Idea

Butane and Isobutane have the same atoms, but different structures

Source

David Lewis (Against Structural Universals [1986], 'Variants')

Book Reference

Lewis,David: 'Papers in Metaphysics and Epistemology' [CUP 1999], p.96


A Reaction

The point is that isobutane and butane have the same components in different structures. At least this is Lewis facing up to the problem of the 'flatness' of mereological wholes.