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Single Idea 12821

[filed under theme 4. Formal Logic / G. Formal Mereology / 3. Axioms of Mereology ]

Full Idea

Formally, the part-relation is transitive and asymmetric (and thus irreflexive). Hence nothing is a proper part of itself, things aren't proper parts of one another, and if one is part of two which is part of three then one is part of three.

Gist of Idea

The part-relation is transitive and asymmetric (and thus irreflexive)

Source

Peter Simons (Parts [1987], 1.1.1)

Book Ref

Simons,Peter: 'Parts: a Study in Ontology' [OUP 1987], p.10


The 9 ideas with the same theme [basic principles for reasoning about parts and wholes]:

A part of a part is a part of a whole [Hobbes]
y is only a proper part of x if there is a z which 'makes up the difference' between them [Yablo]
We might combine the axioms of set theory with the axioms of mereology [Fine,K]
Which should be primitive in mereology - part, or overlap? [Sider]
Two standard formalisations of part-whole theory are the Calculus of Individuals, and Mereology [Simons]
Classical mereology doesn't handle temporal or modal notions very well [Simons]
The part-relation is transitive and asymmetric (and thus irreflexive) [Simons]
Each wheel is part of a car, but the four wheels are not a further part [Simons]
Extensional mereology needs two definitions and two axioms [Hossack]