more on this theme | more from this thinker
Full Idea
No two classes have exactly the same members, but two different attributes may be attributes of exactly the same things. Classes are identical when their members are identical. ...On the other hand, attributes have no clear principle of individuation.
Gist of Idea
Because things can share attributes, we cannot individuate attributes clearly
Source
Willard Quine (On the Individuation of Attributes [1975], p.100)
Book Ref
Quine,Willard: 'Theories and Things' [Harvard 1981], p.100
18439 | Because things can share attributes, we cannot individuate attributes clearly [Quine] |
18440 | Identity of physical objects is just being coextensive [Quine] |
18441 | No entity without identity (which requires a principle of individuation) [Quine] |
18442 | You only know an attribute if you know what things have it [Quine] |