Single Idea 18865

[catalogued under 9. Objects / B. Unity of Objects / 2. Substance / d. Substance defined]

Full Idea

It appears that substance has essential properties: it is of the essence of substance that it individuates, and it is of the essence of substance that it bears properties.

Gist of Idea

Substance must have two properties: individuation, and property-bearing

Source

Jonathan Tallant (Metaphysics: an introduction [2011], 06.2)

Book Reference

Tallant,Jonathan: 'Metaphysics - an introduction' [Continuum 2011], p.122


A Reaction

The point being that substances are not 'bear', because they have a role to perform, and a complete blank can't fulfil a role. We can't take substance, though, seriously in ontology. It is just a label for distinct individuals.