more from Saul A. Kripke

Single Idea 17047

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

Full Idea

Though we can imagine a table identical to this one in this room, but made of ice (or different wood), it seems to me that this is not to imagine this table as made of ice, but to imagine another table, resembling this one, made of ice.

Gist of Idea

If we imagine this table made of ice or different wood, we are imagining a different table

Source

Saul A. Kripke (Naming and Necessity lectures [1970], Lecture 3)

Book Reference

Kripke,Saul: 'Naming and Necessity' [Blackwell 1980], p.114


A Reaction

This is the Necessity of Constitution thesis, which I doubt. Might this table have had one leg different? Why not? Then you have a Ship of Theseus question. How much could be different? How much of the constitution is necessary?