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Single Idea 20362

[filed under theme 9. Objects / B. Unity of Objects / 1. Unifying an Object / c. Unity as conceptual ]

Full Idea

We borrowed the concept of unity from our 'ego' concept - our oldest article of faith. If we did not hold ourselves to be unified, we would never have formed the concept 'thing'. Now, somewhat late, we are convinced that the ego does not guarantee unity.

Gist of Idea

We saw unity in things because our ego seemed unified (but now we doubt the ego!)

Source

Friedrich Nietzsche (The Will to Power (notebooks) [1888], §635)

Book Ref

Nietzsche,Friedrich: 'The Will to Power', ed/tr. Kaufmann,W /Hollingdate,R [Vintage 1968], p.338

A Reaction

Nietzsche tells a similar story about the emergence and subsequent undermining of truth. I am becoming an enthusiast for Nietzsche's account of how our psychology has generated out metaphysics - which doesn't make the metaphysics false.

Related Idea

Idea 20357 Truth was given value by morality, but eventually turned against its own source [Nietzsche]

The 11 ideas with the same theme [unification of objects as only occurring in our minds]:

15856 A thing can become one or many, depending on how we talk about it [Plato]
17839 Some things are unified by their account, which rests on a unified thought about the thing [Aristotle]
2297 If I can separate two things in my understanding, then God can separate them in reality [Descartes]
13160 To exist and be understood, a multitude must first be reduced to a unity [Leibniz]
12746 We find unity in reason, and unity in perception, but these are not true unity [Leibniz]
12035 Leibniz bases pure primitive entities on conjunctions of qualitative properties [Leibniz, by Adams,RM]
20362 We saw unity in things because our ego seemed unified (but now we doubt the ego!) [Nietzsche]
14252 We should understand identity in terms of the propositions it renders true [Fine,K]
13332 Hierarchical set membership models objects better than the subset or aggregate relations do [Fine,K]
14928 Things are abstractions from structures [Ladyman/Ross]
14481 Wherever an object exists, there are intrinsic properties instantiating every modal profile [Thomasson]