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Single Idea 17590
[filed under theme 10. Modality / E. Possible worlds / 3. Transworld Objects / e. Possible Objects
]
Full Idea
The notion of a merely possible object is an even more defective notion than the notion of a borderline object; after all, a merely possible object is an object that definitely isn't there.
Gist of Idea
A merely possible object clearly isn't there, so that is a defective notion
Source
Peter van Inwagen (Material Beings [1990], 19)
Book Ref
Inwagen,Peter van: 'Material Beings' [Cornell 1995], p.274
The
46 ideas
from Peter van Inwagen
6981
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Determinism clashes with free will, as the past determines action, and is beyond our control
[Inwagen, by Jackson]
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8972
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What in the real world could ground the distinction between the sets {A,{A,B}} and {B,{A,B}}?
[Inwagen]
|
17531
|
I assume matter is particulate, made up of 'simples'
[Inwagen]
|
17556
|
Material objects are in space and time, move, have a surface and mass, and are made of some stuff
[Inwagen]
|
17559
|
Is one atom a piece of gold, or is a sizable group of atoms required?
[Inwagen]
|
17558
|
Variables are just like pronouns; syntactic explanations get muddled over dummy letters
[Inwagen]
|
17557
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Special Composition Question: when is a thing part of something?
[Inwagen]
|
17560
|
If contact causes composition, do two colliding balls briefly make one object?
[Inwagen]
|
17561
|
If bricks compose a house, that is at least one thing, but it might be many things
[Inwagen]
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17562
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The statue and lump seem to share parts, but the statue is not part of the lump
[Inwagen]
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17564
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The essence of a star includes the released binding energy which keeps it from collapse
[Inwagen]
|
17563
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The strong force pulls, but also pushes apart if nucleons get too close together
[Inwagen]
|
17565
|
Nihilism says composition between single things is impossible
[Inwagen]
|
17570
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The chemical reactions in a human life involve about sixteen elements
[Inwagen]
|
17566
|
I think parthood involves causation, and not just a reasonably stable spatial relationship
[Inwagen]
|
17567
|
A flame is like a life, but not nearly so well individuated
[Inwagen]
|
17568
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A tumour may spread a sort of life, but it is not a life, or an organism
[Inwagen]
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17569
|
Unlike waves, lives are 'jealous'; it is almost impossible for them to overlap
[Inwagen]
|
17571
|
Every physical thing is either a living organism or a simple
[Inwagen]
|
14228
|
If there are no tables, but tables are things arranged tablewise, the denial of tables is a contradiction
[Liggins on Inwagen]
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14227
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We could refer to tables as 'xs that are arranged tablewise'
[Inwagen]
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14468
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Actions by artefacts and natural bodies are disguised cooperations, so we don't need them
[Inwagen]
|
17572
|
Actuality proves possibility, but that doesn't explain how it is possible
[Inwagen]
|
17573
|
There is no reason to think that mere existence is a valuable thing
[Inwagen]
|
17576
|
If God were to 'reassemble' my atoms of ten years ago, the result would certainly not be me
[Inwagen]
|
17575
|
The persistence of artifacts always covertly involves intelligent beings
[Inwagen]
|
17574
|
If you knead clay you make an infinite series of objects, but they are rearrangements, not creations
[Inwagen]
|
17578
|
I reject talk of 'stuff', and treat it in terms of particles
[Inwagen]
|
17577
|
When an electron 'leaps' to another orbit, is the new one the same electron?
[Inwagen]
|
17579
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Counterparts reduce counterfactual identity to problems about similarity relations
[Inwagen]
|
17580
|
One's mental and other life is centred on the brain, unlike any other part of the body
[Inwagen]
|
17581
|
Being part of an organism's life is a matter of degree, and vague
[Inwagen]
|
17582
|
Singular terms can be vague, because they can contain predicates, which can be vague
[Inwagen]
|
17587
|
The 'Law' of Excluded Middle needs all propositions to be definitely true or definitely false
[Inwagen]
|
17583
|
There are no heaps
[Inwagen]
|
17585
|
Life is vague at both ends, but could it be totally vague?
[Inwagen]
|
17589
|
If you reject transitivity of vague identity, there is no Ship of Theseus problem
[Inwagen]
|
17588
|
We should talk of the transitivity of 'identity', and of 'definite identity'
[Inwagen]
|
17584
|
Some events are only borderline cases of lives
[Inwagen]
|
17586
|
At the lower level, life trails off into mere molecular interaction
[Inwagen]
|
17590
|
A merely possible object clearly isn't there, so that is a defective notion
[Inwagen]
|
17591
|
Merely possible objects must be consistent properties, or haecceities
[Inwagen]
|
14230
|
We can deny whole objects but accept parts, by referring to them as plurals within things
[Inwagen, by Liggins]
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8264
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Maybe table-shaped particles exist, but not tables
[Inwagen, by Lowe]
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10662
|
Mereology is 'nihilistic' (just atoms) or 'universal' (no restrictions on what is 'whole')
[Inwagen, by Varzi]
|
7101
|
Virtue theory needs an external standard to judge behaviour and character
[Inwagen, by Statman]
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