more on this theme     |     more from this thinker

Single Idea 14511

[filed under theme 9. Objects / A. Existence of Objects / 5. Individuation / d. Individuation by haecceity ]

Full Idea

I have argued that there are possible cases in which no purely qualitative conditions would be both necessary and sufficient for possessing a given thisness.

Gist of Idea

There are cases where mere qualities would not ensure an intrinsic identity

Source

Robert Merrihew Adams (Primitive Thisness and Primitive Identity [1979], 6)

Book Ref

'Metaphysics - An Anthology', ed/tr. Sosa,E. /Kim,J. [Blackwell 1999], p.181

A Reaction

Are we perhaps confusing our epistemology with our ontology here? We can ensure that something has identity, or ensure that its identity is knowable. If it is 'something', then it has identity. Er, that's it?

Related Idea

Idea 14512 Moderate Haecceitism says transworld identities are primitive, but connected to qualities [Adams,RM]

The 12 ideas from 'Primitive Thisness and Primitive Identity'

11964 Possible worlds are world-stories, maximal descriptions of whole non-existent worlds [Adams,RM, by Molnar]
16451 Adams says anti-haecceitism reduces all thisness to suchness [Adams,RM, by Stalnaker]
11901 Haecceitism may or may not involve some logical connection to essence [Adams,RM, by Mackie,P]
14507 Are possible worlds just qualities, or do they include primitive identities as well? [Adams,RM]
14508 A 'thisness' is a thing's property of being identical with itself (not the possession of self-identity) [Adams,RM]
12031 Essences are taken to be qualitative properties [Adams,RM]
12032 Direct reference is by proper names, or indexicals, or referential uses of descriptions [Adams,RM]
12034 If the universe was cyclical, totally indiscernible events might occur from time to time [Adams,RM]
14510 Two events might be indiscernible yet distinct, if there was a universe cyclical in time [Adams,RM]
16455 Black's two globes might be one globe in highly curved space [Adams,RM]
14512 Moderate Haecceitism says transworld identities are primitive, but connected to qualities [Adams,RM]
14511 There are cases where mere qualities would not ensure an intrinsic identity [Adams,RM]