more from this thinker     |     more from this text


Single Idea 23018

[filed under theme 9. Objects / E. Objects over Time / 2. Objects that Change ]

Full Idea

The problems of temporary intrinsics are reconciling the indiscernibility of identicals with change in an object over time, and the problem of something have incompatible properties over time (such as tired and not-tired).

Gist of Idea

How does a changing object retain identity or have incompatible properties over time?

Source

Baron,S/Miller,K (Intro to the Philosophy of Time [2019], 7.3.1)

Book Ref

Baron,S/Miller,K: 'Introduction to the Philosophy of Time' [Polity 2019], p.182


A Reaction

Loosely speaking, I would offer some sort of essentialism as the answer to these problems. People are not essentially sitting down, or tired. Or we can relativise properties to times t1 and t2.


The 17 ideas with the same theme [how identity fares when an object's properties change]:

For animate things, only the form, not the matter or properties, must persist through change [Aristotle, by Frede,M]
Coming to be is by shape-change, addition, subtraction, composition or alteration [Aristotle]
Natural things are their own source of stability through change [Aristotle]
Change of matter doesn't destroy identity - in Dion and Theon change is a condition of identity [Chrysippus, by Long/Sedley]
If a republic can retain identity through many changes, so can an individual [Hume]
If identity survives change or interruption, then resemblance, contiguity or causation must unite the parts of it [Hume]
To say something remains the same but lacks its capacities and powers seems a contradiction [Harré/Madden]
Some individuals can gain or lose capacities or powers, without losing their identity [Harré/Madden]
A particular might change all of its characteristics, retaining mere numerical identity [Harré/Madden]
Properties cannot be relations to times, if there are temporary properties which are intrinsic [Lewis, by Sider]
If a soldier continues to exist after serving as a soldier, does the wind cease to exist after it ceases to blow? [Benardete,JA]
A 'substance' is a thing that remains the same when its properties change [Lowe]
'Adverbialism' explains change by saying an object has-at-some-time a given property [Hawley]
Presentism solves the change problem: the green banana ceases, so can't 'relate' to the yellow one [Hawley]
The problem of change arises if there must be 'identity' of a thing over time [Hawley]
Change is instantiation of a non-uniform distributional property, like 'being red-then-orange' [Cameron]
How does a changing object retain identity or have incompatible properties over time? [Baron/Miller]