more from David Lewis

Single Idea 15748

[catalogued under 8. Modes of Existence / B. Properties / 13. Tropes / b. Critique of tropes]

Full Idea

Trope theory needs a primitive notion - 'instantion' in yet another sense - to say how the tropes that comprise a particle are united.

Gist of Idea

Trope theory needs a primitive notion for what unites some tropes

Source

David Lewis (On the Plurality of Worlds [1986], 1.5)

Book Reference

Lewis,David: 'On the Plurality of Worlds' [Blackwell 2001], p.65


A Reaction

Any theory which says that objects are just 'bundles' of tropes is asking for trouble. But if you say (with Lowe and others) that tropes are 'modes' of existing entities, you still have to give an account of the entity.