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Single Idea 16450

[filed under theme 10. Modality / E. Possible worlds / 3. Transworld Objects / d. Haecceitism ]

Full Idea

The anti-haecceitist strategy holds that a purely qualitative characterisation of a possible world would be a complete characterisation; there is, on this view, nothing to being a particular individual other than meeting certain qualitative conditions.

Gist of Idea

Anti-haecceitism says there is no more to an individual than meeting some qualitative conditions

Source

Robert C. Stalnaker (Mere Possibilities [2012], 3)

Book Ref

Stalnaker,Robert C.: 'Mere Possibilities' [Princeton 2012], p.52

A Reaction

Not quite the same as the bundle theory of objects, which says the objects are the qualities. This is about individuation, not about ontology (I think). I don't like anti-haecceitism, but I also don't like haecceitism. Hmm.

The 16 ideas with the same theme [indistinguishable worlds might still have different objects]:

13085 Leibniz is some form of haecceitist [Leibniz, by Cover/O'Leary-Hawthorne]
12869 Two objects may only differ in being different [Wittgenstein]
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]
14512 Moderate Haecceitism says transworld identities are primitive, but connected to qualities [Adams,RM]
11990 'Haecceitism' says that sameness or difference of individuals is independent of appearances [Kaplan]
9668 'Haecceitism' is common thisness under dissimilarity, or distinct thisnesses under resemblance [Kaplan]
11991 If quantification into modal contexts is legitimate, that seems to imply some form of haecceitism [Kaplan]
16450 Anti-haecceitism says there is no more to an individual than meeting some qualitative conditions [Stalnaker]
11903 Extreme haecceitists could say I might have been a poached egg, but it is too remote to consider [Lewis, by Mackie,P]
15129 Haecceitism implies de re differences but qualitative identity [Lewis]
9670 Extreme haecceitism says you might possibly be a poached egg [Lewis]
12021 Haecceitism attributes to each individual a primitive identity or thisness [Forbes,G]
12029 We believe in thisnesses, because we reject bizarre possibilities as not being about that individual [Forbes,G]
9491 Haecceitism says identity is independent of qualities and without essence [Bird]
11884 The theory of 'haecceitism' does not need commitment to individual haecceities [Mackie,P]