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Single Idea 12882

[filed under theme 7. Existence / B. Change in Existence / 3. Moments ]

Full Idea

A wave is maintained by a process transferring motion from particle to particle of the medium, but it is not identical with this process.

Gist of Idea

A wave is maintained by a process, but it isn't a process

Source

Peter Simons (Parts [1987], 8.5)

Book Ref

Simons,Peter: 'Parts: a Study in Ontology' [OUP 1987], p.308

A Reaction

I'm inclined to think of the mind as a process. There are some 'things' which only seem to exist if they have a duration. Bricks can be instantaneous, but minds and waves can't. A wave isn't a continuant. A hill isn't a wave.

The 4 ideas with the same theme [treating small units of time as among the things that exist]:

12880 Moments are things like smiles or skids, which are founded on other things [Simons]
12881 A smiling is an event with causes, but the smile is a continuant without causes [Simons]
12882 A wave is maintained by a process, but it isn't a process [Simons]
12883 Moving disturbances are are moments which continuously change their basis [Simons]