more from Allan Gibbard

Single Idea 14066

[catalogued under 9. Objects / B. Unity of Objects / 3. Unity Problems / c. Statue and clay]

Full Idea

A 'piece' of clay is a portion of clay which comes into existence when all of its parts come to be stuck to each other, and cease to be stuck to any clay which is not a part of the portion.

Gist of Idea

A 'piece' of clay begins when its parts stick together, separately from other clay

Source

Allan Gibbard (Contingent Identity [1975], I)

Book Reference

-: 'Journal of Symbolic Logic' [-], p.189


A Reaction

The sort of gormlessly elementary things that philosophers find themselves having to say, but this is a good basic assertion for a discussion of statue and clay, and I can't think of an objection to it.