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Single Idea 14524

[filed under theme 9. Objects / A. Existence of Objects / 5. Individuation / b. Individuation by properties ]

Full Idea

Epicurus said that body was conceived as an aggregate of shape and size and resistance and weight.

Gist of Idea

Bodies are combinations of shape, size, resistance and weight

Source

Epicurus (Principle Doctrines ('Kuriai Doxai') (frags) [c.290 BCE])

Book Ref

Epicurus: 'The Epicurus Reader', ed/tr. Inwood,B. /Gerson,L. [Hackett 1994], p.89


A Reaction

[Source Sextus 'Adversus Mathematicos' 10.257] Note that this is how we 'conceive' them. They might be intrinsically different, except that Epicurus is pretty much a phenomenalist.


The 11 ideas with the same theme [picking out by a unique set of properties]:

Bodies are combinations of shape, size, resistance and weight [Epicurus]
If two individuals could be indistinguishable, there could be no principle of individuation [Leibniz]
The law of the series, which determines future states of a substance, is what individuates it [Leibniz]
Two things can only be distinguished by a distinct property or a distinct relation [Black]
It is likely that particulars can be individuated by unique conjunctions of properties [Armstrong]
An individual is a union of a group of qualities and a position [Quinton, by Campbell,K]
Kripke individuates objects by essential modal properties (and presupposes essentialism) [Kripke, by Putnam]
Total intrinsic properties give us what a thing is [Lewis]
Criteria of identity cannot individuate objects, because they are shared among different types [Lowe]
Scholastics thought Quantity could be the principle of individuation [Pasnau]
If you reject essences, questions of individuation become extremely difficult [Pasnau]