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Single Idea 8274

[filed under theme 9. Objects / E. Objects over Time / 12. Origin as Essential ]

Full Idea

Against Kripke's thesis of 'necessity of origin' I will just point out the intuitive force of the claim that Socrates - that very person - could, logically, have had no beginning to his existence at all, or have come into existence ex nihilo.

Gist of Idea

Socrates can't have a necessary origin, because he might have had no 'origin'

Source

comment on Saul A. Kripke (Naming and Necessity lectures [1970], p.110-) by E.J. Lowe - The Possibility of Metaphysics 6.5

Book Ref

Lowe,E.J.: 'The Possibility of Metaphysics' [OUP 2001], p.152


A Reaction

It also strikes me that one base-pair difference in his DNA (by a mutation, or a fractionally different parent) would still leave him as Socrates. People are not good candidates for 'rigid' designation. Counterparts seems a better account here.