Single Idea 18507

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

Full Idea

Substances, as property bearers, must be simple; substances of necessity lack constituents that are themselves substances.

Gist of Idea

Substances bear properties, so must be simple, and not consist of further substances

Source

John Heil (The Universe as We Find It [2012], 01.3)

Book Reference

Heil,John: 'The Universe as We Find It' [OUP 2012], p.4


A Reaction

How can he think that this is a truth of pure metaphysics? A crowd has properties because we think of it as a simple substance, not because it actually is one. Can properties have properties? Are tree and leaf both substances?