Single Idea 14996

[catalogued under 8. Modes of Existence / B. Properties / 5. Natural Properties]

Full Idea

Sharing of [perfectly natural properties] makes for qualitative similarity, they carve at the joints, they are intrinsic, they are highly specific, the sets of their instances are ipso facto not highly miscellaneous.

Gist of Idea

Natural properties give similarity, joint carving, intrinsicness, specificity, homogeneity...

Source

David Lewis (On the Plurality of Worlds [1986], 1.5)

Book Reference

Lewis,David: 'On the Plurality of Worlds' [Blackwell 2001], p.60


A Reaction

All this sounds like just what I want, but when I read Lewis he seems to be arriving at these natural properties by the wrong route. Too much Hume, too much extensionalism.