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Single Idea 17513

[filed under theme 9. Objects / B. Unity of Objects / 3. Unity Problems / c. Statue and clay ]

Full Idea

The statue is marble and man-shaped, but so is the piece of marble. So not only are the two objects in the same place, but two marble and man-shaped objects in the same place, so 'that marble, man-shaped object' must be ambiguous or indefinite.

Gist of Idea

If there are two objects, then 'that marble, man-shaped object' is ambiguous

Source

M.R. Ayers (Individuals without Sortals [1974], 'Prob')

Book Ref

-: 'Canadian Journal of Philosophy' [-], p.120

A Reaction

It strikes me as basic that it can't be a piece of marble if you subtract its shape, and it can't be a statue if you subtract its matter. To treat a statue as an object, separately from its matter, is absurd.

The 15 ideas from M.R. Ayers

17511 Recognising continuity is separate from sortals, and must precede their use [Ayers]
17510 Speakers need the very general category of a thing, if they are to think about it [Ayers]
17509 Some say a 'covering concept' completes identity; others place the concept in the reference [Ayers]
17521 You can't have the concept of a 'stage' if you lack the concept of an object [Ayers]
17522 We use sortals to classify physical objects by the nature and origin of their unity [Ayers]
17523 Sortals basically apply to individuals [Ayers]
17520 Events do not have natural boundaries, and we have to set them [Ayers]
17519 To express borderline cases of objects, you need the concept of an 'object' [Ayers]
17518 Counting 'coin in this box' may have coin as the unit, with 'in this box' merely as the scope [Ayers]
17514 Temporal 'parts' cannot be separated or rearranged [Ayers]
17512 If diachronic identities need covering concepts, why not synchronic identities too? [Ayers]
17513 If there are two objects, then 'that marble, man-shaped object' is ambiguous [Ayers]
17515 Seeing caterpillar and moth as the same needs continuity, not identity of sortal concepts [Ayers]
17517 Could the same matter have more than one form or principle of unity? [Ayers]
17516 If counting needs a sortal, what of things which fall under two sortals? [Ayers]