Single Idea 14472

[catalogued under 9. Objects / A. Existence of Objects / 6. Nihilism about Objects]

Full Idea

Given the proper understanding of 'arranged baseballwise', the fact that atoms arranged baseballwise are causally relevant to a shattering analytically entails that a baseball is.

Gist of Idea

If atoms 'arranged baseballwise' break a window, that analytically entails that a baseball did it

Source

report of Trenton Merricks (Objects and Persons [2003], 3) by Amie L. Thomasson - Ordinary Objects 01.3

Book Reference

Thomasson,Amie L.: 'Ordinary Objects' [OUP 2010], p.21


A Reaction

This is the key argument of Thomasson's book. Presumably, following Idea 14471, 'I bought some atoms arranged baseballwise' is held to entail 'I bought a baseball'. That seems to beg the question against Van Inwagen and Merricks.

Related Idea

Idea 14471 Analytical entailments arise from combinations of meanings and inference rules [Thomasson]