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Single Idea 11116

[filed under theme 9. Objects / A. Existence of Objects / 1. Physical Objects ]

Full Idea

Being a physical object (as opposed to being a horse or a statue) really is our most fundamental category for dealing with the external world.

Gist of Idea

Being a physical object is our most fundamental category

Source

Michael Jubien (Analyzing Modality [2007], 2)

Book Ref

'Oxford Studies in Metaphysics vol.3', ed/tr. Zimmerman,Dean W. [OUP 2007], p.110


A Reaction

This raises the interesting question of why any categories should be considered to be more 'fundamental' than others. I can only think that we perceive something to be an object fractionally before we (usually) manage to identify it.


The 14 ideas from 'Analyzing Modality'

Your properties, not some other world, decide your possibilities [Jubien]
Modal truths are facts about parts of this world, not about remote maximal entities [Jubien]
We have no idea how many 'possible worlds' there might be [Jubien]
If there are no other possible worlds, do we then exist necessarily? [Jubien]
If all possible worlds just happened to include stars, their existence would be necessary [Jubien]
Possible worlds just give parallel contingencies, with no explanation at all of necessity [Jubien]
If other worlds exist, then they are scattered parts of the actual world [Jubien]
Worlds don't explain necessity; we use necessity to decide on possible worlds [Jubien]
We mustn't confuse a similar person with the same person [Jubien]
Being a physical object is our most fundamental category [Jubien]
Haecceities implausibly have no qualities [Jubien]
'All horses' either picks out the horses, or the things which are horses [Jubien]
Modal propositions transcend the concrete, but not the actual [Jubien]
De re necessity is just de dicto necessity about object-essences [Jubien]