Single Idea 8294

[catalogued under 8. Modes of Existence / B. Properties / 13. Tropes / b. Critique of tropes]

Full Idea

It seems that tropes are identity-dependent upon their possessors, but it is difficult to square this claim with the thesis that the possessors of tropes are themselves just bundles of tropes.

Gist of Idea

How can tropes depend on objects for their identity, if objects are just bundles of tropes?

Source

E.J. Lowe (The Possibility of Metaphysics [1998], 9.8)

Book Reference

Lowe,E.J.: 'The Possibility of Metaphysics' [OUP 2001], p.206


A Reaction

This circularity in all attempts to individuate tropes is Lowe's main reason for rejecting them. It does seem that the sphericity of a ball must be either identified against other (universal) sphericities, or by the sphere that has the property.