more from David Lewis

Single Idea 15399

[catalogued under 8. Modes of Existence / B. Properties / 11. Properties as Sets]

Full Idea

Lewis thought that the property of being F was identical with the set of objects, in all possible worlds, which are F.

Gist of Idea

The property of being F is identical with the set of objects, in all possible worlds, which are F

Source

report of David Lewis (On the Plurality of Worlds [1986], §1.5) by Ross P. Cameron - Intrinsic and Extrinsic Properties

Book Reference

'Routledge Companion to Metaphysics', ed/tr. Le Poidevin/Simons etc [Routledge 2012], p.269


A Reaction

I can't make head or tail of a theory which says that a property is a set of objects. I'll show you a room full of objects and tell you they are a property. How are you going to work out what the property is? 'Being F' is a predicate, not a property!