more from Peter van Inwagen

Single Idea 14227

[catalogued under 2. Reason / D. Definition / 12. Paraphrase]

Full Idea

We could paraphrase 'some chairs are heavier than some tables' as 'there are xs that are arranged chairwise and there are ys that are arranged tablewise and the xs are heavier than the ys'.

Gist of Idea

We could refer to tables as 'xs that are arranged tablewise'

Source

Peter van Inwagen (Material Beings [1990], 11)

Book Reference

Inwagen,Peter van: 'Material Beings' [Cornell 1995], p.109


A Reaction

Liggins notes that this involves plural quantification. Being 'arranged tablewise' has become a rather notorious locution in modern ontology. We still have to retain identity, to pick out the xs.