more from Willard Quine

Single Idea 11095

[catalogued under 9. Objects / F. Identity among Objects / 7. Indiscernible Objects]

Full Idea

We might propound the maxim of the 'identification of indiscernibles': Objects indistinguishable from one another within the terms of a given discourse should be construed as identical for that discourse.

Gist of Idea

We should just identify any items which are indiscernible within a given discourse

Source

Willard Quine (Identity, Ostension, and Hypostasis [1950], 2)

Book Reference

Quine,Willard: 'From a Logical Point of View' [Harper and Row 1963], p.71


A Reaction

This increasingly strikes me as the correct way to discuss such things. Identity is largely contextual, and two things can be viewed as type-identical for practical purposes (e.g. teaspoons), but distinguished if it is necessary.