more from Peter van Inwagen

Single Idea 17562

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

Full Idea

Those who believe that the statue is distinct from the lump should concede that whatever shares a part with the statue shares a part with the lump but deny that the statue is a part of the lump.

Gist of Idea

The statue and lump seem to share parts, but the statue is not part of the lump

Source

Peter van Inwagen (Material Beings [1990], 05)

Book Reference

Inwagen,Peter van: 'Material Beings' [Cornell 1995], p.53


A Reaction

Standard mereology says if they share all their parts then they are the same thing, so it is hard to explain how they are 'distinct'. The distinction is only modal - that they could be separated (by squashing, or by part substitution).