Single Idea 13281

[catalogued under 9. Objects / C. Structure of Objects / 8. Parts of Objects / c. Wholes from parts]

Full Idea

In my approach (as in that of Plato and Aristotle), wholes are in no way identified with parts; rather, a commitment to wholes is a commitment to entities numerically distinct from their proper parts.

Gist of Idea

Wholes are not just their parts; a whole is an entity distinct from the proper parts

Source

Kathrin Koslicki (The Structure of Objects [2008], 7.2.11)

Book Reference

Koslicki,Kathrin: 'The Structure of Objects' [OUP 2008], p.192


A Reaction

Calling the whole an 'entity' doesn't seem to capture it. She seems to think there are some extra parts, in addition to the material parts, that make something a whole. I think this might be a category mistake. A structure is an abstraction.