more from Peter Simons

Single Idea 12814

[catalogued under 9. Objects / C. Structure of Objects / 8. Parts of Objects / b. Sums of parts]

Full Idea

Either out of conviction or for reasons of algebraic neatness, classical extensional mereology asserts the existence of certain individuals, mereological sums, for whose existence in general we have no evidence outside the theory itself.

Gist of Idea

Classical mereology says there are 'sums', for whose existence there is no other evidence

Source

Peter Simons (Parts [1987], Intro)

Book Reference

Simons,Peter: 'Parts: a Study in Ontology' [OUP 1987], p.1


A Reaction

Observing that we have no evidence for sums 'outside the theory' is nice. It is a nice ontological test, with interesting implications for Quinean ontological commitment.