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Single Idea 21349

[catalogued under 8. Modes of Existence / A. Relations / 1. Nature of Relations]

Full Idea

If Simmias is taller than Socrates, they are indirectly related; they are related via their possession of properties that are themselves directly - and internally - related. Hence relational truths are made true by non-relational features of the world.

Gist of Idea

Two people are indirectly related by height; the direct relation is internal, between properties

Source

John Heil (Relations [2009], 'Founding')

A Reaction

This seems to be a strategy for reducing external relations to internal relations, which are intrinsic to objects, which thus reduces the ontology. Heil is not endorsing it, but cites Kit Fine 2000. The germ of this idea is in Plato.

Book Reference

'Routledge Companion to Metaphysics', ed/tr. Le Poidevin/Simons etc [Routledge 2012], p.317

Related Idea

Idea 21347 If Simmias is taller than Socrates, that isn't a feature that is just in Simmias [Plato]