more on this theme     |     more from this thinker


Single Idea 11901

[filed under theme 10. Modality / E. Possible worlds / 3. Transworld Objects / d. Haecceitism ]

Full Idea

Moderate Haecceitism says that thisnesses and transworld identities are primitive, but logically connected with suchnesses. ..Extreme Haecceitism involves the rejection of all logical connections between suchness and thisness, for persons.

Clarification

'Thisness' is basic identity; 'Suchness' is essence

Gist of Idea

Haecceitism may or may not involve some logical connection to essence

Source

report of Robert Merrihew Adams (Primitive Thisness and Primitive Identity [1979]) by Penelope Mackie - How Things Might Have Been

Book Ref

Mackie,Penelope: 'How Things Might Have Been' [OUP 2006], p.152


A Reaction

I am coming to the conclusion that they are not linked. That thisness is a feature of our conceptual thinking, and is utterly atomistic and content-free, while suchness is rich and a feature of reality.


The 12 ideas from 'Primitive Thisness and Primitive Identity'

Possible worlds are world-stories, maximal descriptions of whole non-existent worlds [Adams,RM, by Molnar]
Adams says anti-haecceitism reduces all thisness to suchness [Adams,RM, by Stalnaker]
Haecceitism may or may not involve some logical connection to essence [Adams,RM, by Mackie,P]
Are possible worlds just qualities, or do they include primitive identities as well? [Adams,RM]
A 'thisness' is a thing's property of being identical with itself (not the possession of self-identity) [Adams,RM]
Essences are taken to be qualitative properties [Adams,RM]
Direct reference is by proper names, or indexicals, or referential uses of descriptions [Adams,RM]
If the universe was cyclical, totally indiscernible events might occur from time to time [Adams,RM]
Two events might be indiscernible yet distinct, if there was a universe cyclical in time [Adams,RM]
Black's two globes might be one globe in highly curved space [Adams,RM]
Moderate Haecceitism says transworld identities are primitive, but connected to qualities [Adams,RM]
There are cases where mere qualities would not ensure an intrinsic identity [Adams,RM]