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Full Idea
Some philosophers propose that things have their qualities by having them as parts, either as repeatable universals (Goodman), or as particulars (Donald Williams).
Gist of Idea
Some say qualities are parts of things - as repeatable universals, or as particulars
Source
David Lewis (Parts of Classes [1991], 2.1 n2)
Book Ref
Lewis,David: 'Parts of Classes' [Blackwell 1991], p.33
A Reaction
He refers to 'qualities' rather than 'properties', presumably because this view makes them all intrinsic to the object. Is being 'handsome' a part of a person?
| 1532 | Sensible qualities can't be real if they appear different to different creatures [Democritus, by Theophrastus] |
| 12478 | A 'quality' is a power to produce an idea in our minds [Locke] |
| 6991 | We examine objects to determine colour; we do not introspect [Jackson] |
| 15509 | Some say qualities are parts of things - as repeatable universals, or as particulars [Lewis] |
| 7028 | If properties were qualities without dispositions, they would be undetectable [Heil] |
| 7029 | Can we distinguish the way a property is from the property? [Heil] |
| 7030 | Properties don't possess ways they are, because that just is the property [Heil] |
| 8276 | Properties or qualities are essentially adjectival, not objectual [Lowe] |