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Single Idea 16081

[filed under theme 9. Objects / C. Structure of Objects / 6. Constitution of an Object ]

Full Idea

Constitution-without-identity is superior to constitution-as-identity in that it provides a unified view of the relation between persons and bodies, statues and pieces of bronze, and so on.

Gist of Idea

The constitution view gives a unified account of the relation of persons/bodies, statues/bronze etc

Source

Lynne Rudder Baker (Why Constitution is not Identity [1997], IV)

Book Ref

-: 'Journal of Philosophy' [-], p.613


A Reaction

I have a problem with the intrinsic dualism of this whole picture. Clay needs shape, statues need matter - there aren't two 'things' here which have a 'relation'.

Related Idea

Idea 16067 Constitution is not identity, because it is an asymmetric dependence relation [Wasserman]


The 6 ideas from 'Why Constitution is not Identity'

Constitution is not identity, as consideration of essential predicates shows [Rudder Baker]
Clay is intrinsically and atomically the same as statue (and that lacks 'modal properties') [Rudder Baker]
Is it possible for two things that are identical to become two separate things? [Rudder Baker]
The constitution view gives a unified account of the relation of persons/bodies, statues/bronze etc [Rudder Baker]
The clay is not a statue - it borrows that property from the statue it constitutes [Rudder Baker]
Statues essentially have relational properties lacked by lumps [Rudder Baker]