Single Idea 12065

[catalogued under 15. Nature of Minds / C. Capacities of Minds / 4. Objectification]

Full Idea

It seems mandatory to an observer of soldiers to give 'the final touch of unity' to their aggregate entity (the army). ...Similar claims arise with the ontological and explanatory claims of other corporate entities.

Gist of Idea

Seeing a group of soldiers as an army is irresistible, in ontology and explanation

Source

David Wiggins (Substance [1995], 4.13.3)

Book Reference

'Philosophy: a Guide Through the Subject', ed/tr. Grayling,A.C. [OUP 1995], p.245


A Reaction

Wiggins must say (following Leibniz Essays II.xxiv,1) that we add the unity, but I take the view that an army has powers, and hence offers explanations, which are lacking in a merely group of disparate soldiers. So an army has an essence and identity.