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Single Idea 12869

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

Full Idea

If two objects have the same logical form, the only distinction between them, apart from their external properties, is that they are different.

Gist of Idea

Two objects may only differ in being different

Source

Ludwig Wittgenstein (Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus [1921], 2.0233)

Book Ref

Wittgenstein,Ludwig: 'Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus (Pears)', ed/tr. Pears,D. /McGuinness,B. [RKP 1961], p.7


A Reaction

This isn't a commitment to haecceities, but it seems to be flirting with the idea. See Simons 1987:241. Kit Fine picks up the idea that objects, as well as sentences, might have 'logical form'. How can being 'different' be primitive? Spatial location?


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

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