Single Idea 12799

[catalogued under 7. Existence / C. Structure of Existence / 8. Stuff / a. Pure stuff]

Full Idea

The definite descriptions of stuff like water are neither singular descriptions denoting individual mereological aggregates, nor plural descriptions denoting multitudes of discrete units or semantically determined atoms.

Gist of Idea

Descriptions of stuff are neither singular aggregates nor plural collections

Source

Henry Laycock (Words without Objects [2006], 5.3)

Book Reference

Laycock,Henry: 'Words without Objects' [OUP 2006], p.153


A Reaction

Laycock makes an excellent case for this claim, and seems to invite a considerable rethink of our basic ontology to match it, one which he ultimately hints at calling 'romantic'. Nice. Conservatives try to force stuff into classical moulds.