Single Idea 16237

[catalogued under 9. Objects / B. Unity of Objects / 3. Unity Problems / c. Statue and clay]

Full Idea

It is difficult to establish a consensus about the modal features of the statue and the lump. Could that statue be made of a different lump? Could that statue of Goliath have been spherical? Not a realistic statue of Goliath, but still the same statue?

Gist of Idea

The modal features of statue and lump are disputed; when does it stop being that statue?

Source

Katherine Hawley (How Things Persist [2001], 6)

Book Reference

Hawley,Katherine: 'How Things Persist' [OUP 2004], p.177


A Reaction

The problem is with a wild wacky sculptor, who might say it is a statue of Goliath no matter what shape the lump takes. 'Goliath had a spherical character'. Sometimes we will say (pace Evans) it is 'roughly identical' to the original statue.