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Single Idea 12874

[filed under theme 9. Objects / D. Essence of Objects / 12. Essential Parts ]

Full Idea

An essential part of an essential part is an essential part of the whole.

Gist of Idea

An essential part of an essential part is an essential part of the whole

Source

Peter Simons (Parts [1987], 7.4)

Book Ref

Simons,Peter: 'Parts: a Study in Ontology' [OUP 1987], p.271

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A Reaction

Sounds beyond dispute, but worth pondering. It seems to be only type-parts, not token-parts, which are essential. Simons is thinking of identity rather than function, but he rejects Chisholm's idea that all parts are essential. So which ones are?

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The 7 ideas with the same theme [parts of objects seen as essential to it]:

16792

If parts change, the whole changes [William of Ockham]

12884

The same whole ceases to exist if a part is lost [Leibniz]

12781

A composite substance is a mere aggregate if its essence is just its parts [Leibniz]

12139

Mereological essentialism says that every part that ensures the existence is essential [Brody]

8443	Mereological essentialism says an entity must have exactly those parts [Sosa]

14757

Mereological essentialism says an object's parts are necessary for its existence [Sider]

12874

An essential part of an essential part is an essential part of the whole [Simons]