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Single Idea 14467
[filed under theme 9. Objects / A. Existence of Objects / 6. Nihilism about Objects
]
Full Idea
Objections to ordinary objects are the Causal Redundancy claim (objects lack causal powers), the Anti-Colocation view (statues and lumps overlap), Sorites arguments, a more economical ontology, or a more scientific ontology.
Gist of Idea
Ordinary objects are rejected, to avoid contradictions, or for greater economy in thought
Source
Amie L. Thomasson (Ordinary Objects [2007], Intro)
Book Ref
Thomasson,Amie L.: 'Ordinary Objects' [OUP 2010], p.4
A Reaction
[my summary of two paragraphs] The chief exponents of these views are Van Inwagen and Merricks. Before you glibly accept ordinary objects, you must focus on producing a really strict ontology. These arguments all have real force.
The
21 ideas
from 'Ordinary Objects'
21651
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It is analytic that if simples are arranged chair-wise, then there is a chair
[Thomasson, by Hofweber]
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14467
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Ordinary objects are rejected, to avoid contradictions, or for greater economy in thought
[Thomasson]
|
14466
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A chief task of philosophy is making reflective sense of our common sense worldview
[Thomasson]
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14471
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Analytical entailments arise from combinations of meanings and inference rules
[Thomasson]
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14475
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How can causal theories of reference handle nonexistence claims?
[Thomasson]
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14474
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Pure causal theories of reference have the 'qua problem', of what sort of things is being referred to
[Thomasson]
|
14476
|
Identity claims between objects are only well-formed if the categories are specified
[Thomasson]
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14477
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Identical entities must be of the same category, and meet the criteria for the category
[Thomasson]
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14478
|
Modal Conventionalism says modality is analytic, not intrinsic to the world, and linguistic
[Thomasson]
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14479
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To individuate people we need conventions, but conventions are made up by people
[Thomasson]
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14480
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Maybe analytic truths do not require truth-makers, as they place no demands on the world
[Thomasson]
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14481
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Wherever an object exists, there are intrinsic properties instantiating every modal profile
[Thomasson]
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14482
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If the statue and the lump are two objects, they require separate properties, so we could add their masses
[Thomasson]
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14483
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Given the similarity of statue and lump, what could possibly ground their modal properties?
[Thomasson]
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14485
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Ordinary objects may be not indispensable, but they are nearly unavoidable
[Thomasson]
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14486
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Eliminativists haven't found existence conditions for chairs, beyond those of the word 'chair'
[Thomasson]
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14487
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The simple existence conditions for objects are established by our practices, and are met
[Thomasson]
|
14489
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Theories do not avoid commitment to entities by avoiding certain terms or concepts
[Thomasson]
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14488
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Analyticity is revealed through redundancy, as in 'He bought a house and a building'
[Thomasson]
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14491
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Rival ontological claims can both be true, if there are analytic relationships between them
[Thomasson]
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14493
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Existence might require playing a role in explanation, or in a causal story, or being composed in some way
[Thomasson]
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