Single Idea 14601

[catalogued under 9. Objects / A. Existence of Objects / 5. Individuation / a. Individuation]

Full Idea

Individuation principles are attempts to describe how to count entities in a given domain, by saying when there is one.

Gist of Idea

Individuation aims to count entities, by saying when there is one

Source

Jonathan Schaffer (Causation and Laws of Nature [2008], 3)

Book Reference

'Contemporary Debates in Metaphysics', ed/tr. Sider/Hawthorne/Zimmerman [Blackwell 2008], p.87


A Reaction

At last, someone tells me what they mean by 'individuation'! So it is just saying what your units are prior to counting, followed (presumably) by successful counting. It seems to aim more at kinds than at particulars.

Related Idea

Idea 13103 Numerical difference is a symmetrical notion, unlike proper individuation [Cover/O'Leary-Hawthorne]