more from David Lewis

Single Idea 8613

[catalogued under 8. Modes of Existence / B. Properties / 5. Natural Properties]

Full Idea

Where my cat (Bruce) ends, there the density of matter, the relative abundance of chemical elements, abruptly change. Bruce is also a locus of causal chains, which traces back to natural properties. Natural properties belong to well demarcated things.

Gist of Idea

Objects are demarcated by density and chemistry, and natural properties belong in what is well demarcated

Source

David Lewis (New work for a theory of universals [1983], 'Cont of L')

Book Reference

'Properties', ed/tr. Mellor,D.H. /Oliver,A [OUP 1997], p.220


A Reaction

This is an amazingly convoluted way to define natural properties in terms of the classes they generate, but it seems obvious to me that the properties are logically prior to the classes.