Single Idea 10669

[catalogued under 5. Theory of Logic / G. Quantification / 6. Plural Quantification]

Full Idea

If all properties are distributive, plural reference is just a handy abbreviation to avoid repetition (as in 'A and B are hungry', to avoid 'A is hungry and B is hungry'), but not all properties are distributive (as in 'some people surround a table').

Clarification

See Idea 10634 for 'distributive'

Gist of Idea

Plural reference is just an abbreviation when properties are distributive, but not otherwise

Source

Keith Hossack (Plurals and Complexes [2000], 2)

Book Reference

-: 'British Soc for the Philosophy of Science' [-], p.415


A Reaction

The characteristic examples to support plural quantification involve collective activity and relations, which might be weeded out of our basic ontology, thus leaving singular quantification as sufficient.

Related Idea

Idea 10634 Predicates are 'distributive' or 'non-distributive'; do individuals do what the group does? [Linnebo]