Single Idea 12815

[catalogued under 4. Formal Logic / G. Formal Mereology / 1. Mereology]

Full Idea

The most fundamental criticism of classical mereology is that the theory is not applicable to most of the objects around us, and is accordingly of little use as a formal reconstruction of the concepts of part and whole which we actually employ.

Gist of Idea

Classical mereology doesn't apply well to the objects around us

Source

Peter Simons (Parts [1987], Intro)

Book Reference

Simons,Peter: 'Parts: a Study in Ontology' [OUP 1987], p.1


A Reaction

This sounds splendidly dismissive, but one might compare it with possible worlds semantics for modal logic, which most people take with a pinch of salt as an actual commitment, but find wonderfully clarifying in modal reasoning.