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Single Idea 12559

[filed under theme 9. Objects / C. Structure of Objects / 7. Substratum ]

Full Idea

The complex ideas that our names of the species of substances properly stand for are collections of qualities, as have been observed to co-exist in an unknown substratum which we call 'substance'.

Gist of Idea

Complex ideas are collections of qualities we attach to an unknown substratum

Source

John Locke (Essay Conc Human Understanding (2nd Ed) [1694], 4.06.07)

Book Ref

Locke,John: 'Essay Concerning Human Understanding', ed/tr. Nidditch,P.H. [OUP 1979], p.582


A Reaction

Locke refers to a substratum, but this is not actually a 'bare' substratum, as he believes in real essences (see other quotations), but believes we have absolutely no chance of knowing them.


The 22 ideas with the same theme [an object's underlying aspect, apart from surface features]:

It is unclear whether Aristotle believes in a propertyless subject, his 'ultimate matter' [Aristotle, by Lawson-Tancred]
If you extract all features of the object, what is left over? [Aristotle]
Something must pre-exist any new production [Aristotle]
A substrate is either a 'this' supporting qualities, or 'matter' supporting actuality [Aristotle]
A subject can't be nothing, so it must qualify as separate, and as having a distinct identity [Aristotle, by Gill,ML]
If we remove surface qualities from wax, we have an extended, flexible, changeable thing [Descartes]
Complex ideas are collections of qualities we attach to an unknown substratum [Locke]
A 'substratum' is just a metaphor for whatever supports several predicates [Leibniz]
A peach is sweet and fuzzy, but it doesn't 'have' those qualities [Chisholm]
I favour the idea of a substratum for properties; spacetime seems to be just a bearer of properties [Martin,CB]
The notorious substratum results from substance-with-qualities; individuals-with-powers solves this [Harré/Madden]
Models nicely separate particulars from their clothing, and logicians often accept that metaphysically [Kaplan]
For the bare particular view, properties must be features, not just groups of objects [Stalnaker]
Possible worlds allow separating all the properties, without hitting a bare particular [Stalnaker]
A substance is either a bundle of properties, or a bare substratum, or an essence [Macdonald,C]
Each substance contains a non-property, which is its substratum or bare particular [Macdonald,C]
The substratum theory explains the unity of substances, and their survival through change [Macdonald,C]
A substratum has the quality of being bare, and they are useless because indiscernible [Macdonald,C]
If a substrate gives causal support for change, quite a lot of the ingredients must endure [Pasnau]
There may be different types of substrate, or temporary substrates [Pasnau]
A substrate may be 'prime matter', which endures through every change [Pasnau]
A substratum can't be 'bare', because it has a job to do [Pasnau]