more from Jonathan Schaffer

Single Idea 13742

[catalogued under 9. Objects / C. Structure of Objects / 8. Parts of Objects / c. Wholes from parts]

Full Idea

I am happy to accept universal composition, on the grounds that there are heaps, piles etc with no integral unity, and that arbitrary composites are no less unified than heaps.

Gist of Idea

There exist heaps with no integral unity, so we should accept arbitrary composites in the same way

Source

Jonathan Schaffer (On What Grounds What [2009], 2.1 n11)

Book Reference

'Metametaphysics', ed/tr. Chalmers/Manley/Wasserman [OUP 2009], p.358


A Reaction

The metaphysical focus is then placed on what constitutes 'integral unity', which is precisely the question which most interested Aristotle. Clearly if there is nothing more to an entity than its components, scattering them isn't destruction.