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Single Idea 15852
[filed under theme 9. Objects / C. Structure of Objects / 8. Parts of Objects / b. Sums of parts
]
Full Idea
In the case of a quantity that has a beginning, a middle and an end, there are those instances in which the order does not create a differentia, which are said to be 'sums', and those is which it does, which are said to be 'wholes'.
Gist of Idea
A 'whole' (rather than a mere 'sum') requires an internal order which distinguishes it
Source
Aristotle (Metaphysics [c.324 BCE], 1024a01-5)
Book Ref
Aristotle: 'Metaphysics', ed/tr. Lawson-Tancred,Hugh [Penguin 1998], p.146
A Reaction
This is the reason why Aristotle is so much better than the run-of-the-mill naïve modern metaphysician.
The
22 ideas
with the same theme
[the concept of parts treated as one concept]:
15852
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A 'whole' (rather than a mere 'sum') requires an internal order which distinguishes it
[Aristotle]
|
15840
|
If a syllable is more than its elements, is the extra bit also an element?
[Aristotle]
|
16790
|
A body is always the same, whether the parts are together or dispersed
[Hobbes]
|
17014
|
The place of a thing is the sum of the places of its parts
[Newton]
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12852
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If x is ever part of y, then y is necessarily such that x is part of y at any time that y exists
[Chisholm, by Simons]
|
15512
|
In mereology no two things consist of the same atoms
[Lewis]
|
15519
|
Trout-turkeys exist, despite lacking cohesion, natural joints and united causal power
[Lewis]
|
15521
|
Given cats, a fusion of cats adds nothing further to reality
[Lewis]
|
15522
|
The one has different truths from the many; it is one rather than many, one rather than six
[Lewis]
|
14210
|
A gerrymandered mereological sum can be a mess, but still have natural joints
[Lewis]
|
13329
|
An 'aggregative' sum is spread in time, and exists whenever a component exists
[Fine,K]
|
13330
|
An 'compound' sum is not spread in time, and only exists when all the components exists
[Fine,K]
|
15837
|
What exactly is a 'sum', and what exactly is 'composition'?
[Harte,V]
|
15839
|
If something is 'more than' the sum of its parts, is the extra thing another part, or not?
[Harte,V]
|
15838
|
The problem with the term 'sum' is that it is singular
[Harte,V]
|
12814
|
Classical mereology says there are 'sums', for whose existence there is no other evidence
[Simons]
|
12817
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'Mereological extensionality' says objects with the same parts are identical
[Simons]
|
12833
|
If there are c atoms, this gives 2^c - 1 individuals, so there can't be just 2 or 12 individuals
[Simons]
|
12849
|
Sums are more plausible for pluralities and masses than they are for individuals
[Simons]
|
12877
|
Sums of things in different categories are found within philosophy.
[Simons]
|
13041
|
Collections have fixed members, but fusions can be carved in innumerable ways
[Potter]
|
14198
|
Absolutely unrestricted qualitative composition would allow things with incompatible properties
[Paul,LA]
|