Single Idea 16777

[catalogued under 9. Objects / B. Unity of Objects / 2. Substance / a. Substance]

Full Idea

Crowds seem to be the bearers of properties, and if they are things at all, then there is no place for them other than in the category of Substance.

Gist of Idea

If crowds are things at all, they seem to be Substances, since they bear properties

Source

Robert Pasnau (Metaphysical Themes 1274-1671 [2011], 26.1)

Book Reference

Pasnau,Robert: 'Metaphysical Themes 1274-1671' [OUP 2011], p.609


A Reaction

It is tempting to say, based on Aristotle, that a substance is whatever 1) bears properties, and 2) endures in spite of change, but a crowd is a nice problem case, because it looks too disunited to be a 'substance'.