Single Idea 10193

[catalogued under 9. Objects / F. Identity among Objects / 5. Self-Identity]

Full Idea

Saying that 'a has the property of being identical with a' is a roundabout way of saying nothing - a useless tautology - and means not more than 'a is a'

Gist of Idea

The 'property' of self-identity is uselessly tautological

Source

Max Black (The Identity of Indiscernibles [1952], p.66)

Book Reference

'Metaphysics - An Anthology', ed/tr. Sosa,E. /Kim,J. [Blackwell 1999], p.66


A Reaction

This matter resembles the problem of the number zero, and the empty set, which seem to be crucial entities for logicians, but of no interest to a common sense view of the world. So much the worse for logic, I am inclined to say.