Full Idea
The untidiness of natural language in its use of 'part' is perhaps one of the chief reasons why mereolologists have preferred to investigate formal systems with nice algebraic properties rather than get out and mix it with reality in all its messiness.
Gist of Idea
Analytic philosophers may prefer formal systems because natural language is such mess
Source
Peter Simons (Parts [1987], 6.4)
Book Reference
Simons,Peter: 'Parts: a Study in Ontology' [OUP 1987], p.236
A Reaction
[See Idea 12864 for the uses of 'part'] I am in the unhappy (and probably doomed) position of wanting to avoid both approaches. I try to operate as if the English language were transparent and we can just discuss the world. Very naïve.
Related Idea
Idea 12864 We say 'b is part of a', 'b is a part of a', 'b are a part of a', or 'b are parts of a'. [Simons]