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Single Idea 12019

[filed under theme 9. Objects / E. Objects over Time / 12. Origin as Essential ]

Full Idea

McGinn assimilates the origin relation among organisms to the identity relation, so that the necessity of origin becomes a special case of the necessity of identity. We argue that this assimilation is illegitimate.

Gist of Idea

McGinn falsely claims necessity of origin is a special case of the necessity of identity

Source

comment on Colin McGinn (On the Necessity of Origin [1976]) by Graeme Forbes - The Metaphysics of Modality 6.1

Book Ref

Forbes,Graeme: 'The Metaphysics of Modality' [OUP 1985], p.134

A Reaction

Not sure about this. I have long suspected what McGinn suspects. Once you have identified the organism with a particular origin, it hardly seems surprising that this particular origin has become inescapable.

The 2 ideas from 'On the Necessity of Origin'

12019 McGinn falsely claims necessity of origin is a special case of the necessity of identity [Forbes,G on McGinn]
18892 Suppose a world where I'm from different gametes; add my gametes; which one is more me? [McGinn]