Single Idea 12870

[catalogued under 9. Objects / D. Essence of Objects / 7. Essence and Necessity / b. Essence not necessities]

Full Idea

We must distinguish the 'must' of necessity as applied to a proposition or state of affairs (de dicto) from the 'must' of essence, concerning the way in which an object has an attribute (de re).

Gist of Idea

We must distinguish the de dicto 'must' of propositions from the de re 'must' of essence

Source

Peter Simons (Parts [1987], 7.1)

Book Reference

Simons,Peter: 'Parts: a Study in Ontology' [OUP 1987], p.257


A Reaction

A helfpful distinction, but a possible confusion of necessity and essentiality (Simons knows this). Modern logicians seem to run them together, because they only care about identity. I don't, because I care about explanations.