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Single Idea 11884

[filed under theme 10. Modality / E. Possible worlds / 3. Transworld Objects / d. Haecceitism ]

Full Idea

The theory that things have 'haecceities' must be sharply distinguished from the theory referred to as 'haecceitism', which says there may be differences in transworld identities that do not supervene on qualitative differences.

Clarification

One might translate 'haecceity' [pr 'hex-ey-ety'] as 'thisness'

Gist of Idea

The theory of 'haecceitism' does not need commitment to individual haecceities

Source

Penelope Mackie (How Things Might Have Been [2006], 2.2 n7)

Book Ref

Mackie,Penelope: 'How Things Might Have Been' [OUP 2006], p.21

A Reaction

She says later [p,43 n] that it is possible to be a haecceitist without believing in individual haecceities, if (say) the transworld identities had no basis at all. Note that if 'thisness' is 'haecceity', then 'whatness' is 'quiddity'.

The 16 ideas with the same theme [indistinguishable worlds might still have different objects]:

13085 Leibniz is some form of haecceitist [Leibniz, by Cover/O'Leary-Hawthorne]
12869 Two objects may only differ in being different [Wittgenstein]
16451 Adams says anti-haecceitism reduces all thisness to suchness [Adams,RM, by Stalnaker]
11901 Haecceitism may or may not involve some logical connection to essence [Adams,RM, by Mackie,P]
14512 Moderate Haecceitism says transworld identities are primitive, but connected to qualities [Adams,RM]
11990 'Haecceitism' says that sameness or difference of individuals is independent of appearances [Kaplan]
9668 'Haecceitism' is common thisness under dissimilarity, or distinct thisnesses under resemblance [Kaplan]
11991 If quantification into modal contexts is legitimate, that seems to imply some form of haecceitism [Kaplan]
16450 Anti-haecceitism says there is no more to an individual than meeting some qualitative conditions [Stalnaker]
11903 Extreme haecceitists could say I might have been a poached egg, but it is too remote to consider [Lewis, by Mackie,P]
15129 Haecceitism implies de re differences but qualitative identity [Lewis]
9670 Extreme haecceitism says you might possibly be a poached egg [Lewis]
12021 Haecceitism attributes to each individual a primitive identity or thisness [Forbes,G]
12029 We believe in thisnesses, because we reject bizarre possibilities as not being about that individual [Forbes,G]
9491 Haecceitism says identity is independent of qualities and without essence [Bird]
11884 The theory of 'haecceitism' does not need commitment to individual haecceities [Mackie,P]