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Single Idea 17515
[filed under theme 9. Objects / A. Existence of Objects / 5. Individuation / e. Individuation by kind
]
Full Idea
It is unnecessary to call moths 'caterpillars' or caterpillars 'moths' to see that they can be the same individual. It may be that our sortal concepts reflect our beliefs about continuity, but our beliefs about continuity need not reflect our sortals.
Gist of Idea
Seeing caterpillar and moth as the same needs continuity, not identity of sortal concepts
Source
M.R. Ayers (Individuals without Sortals [1974], 'Realist' vi)
Book Ref
-: 'Canadian Journal of Philosophy' [-], p.131
A Reaction
Something that metamorphosed through 15 different stages could hardly required 15 different sortals before we recognised the fact. Ayers is right.
The
15 ideas
from M.R. Ayers
17511
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Recognising continuity is separate from sortals, and must precede their use
[Ayers]
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17510
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Speakers need the very general category of a thing, if they are to think about it
[Ayers]
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17509
|
Some say a 'covering concept' completes identity; others place the concept in the reference
[Ayers]
|
17523
|
Sortals basically apply to individuals
[Ayers]
|
17521
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You can't have the concept of a 'stage' if you lack the concept of an object
[Ayers]
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17522
|
We use sortals to classify physical objects by the nature and origin of their unity
[Ayers]
|
17520
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Events do not have natural boundaries, and we have to set them
[Ayers]
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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]
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17514
|
Temporal 'parts' cannot be separated or rearranged
[Ayers]
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17512
|
If diachronic identities need covering concepts, why not synchronic identities too?
[Ayers]
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17513
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If there are two objects, then 'that marble, man-shaped object' is ambiguous
[Ayers]
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17515
|
Seeing caterpillar and moth as the same needs continuity, not identity of sortal concepts
[Ayers]
|
17516
|
If counting needs a sortal, what of things which fall under two sortals?
[Ayers]
|
17517
|
Could the same matter have more than one form or principle of unity?
[Ayers]
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