more from David Wiggins

Single Idea 16501

[catalogued under 9. Objects / A. Existence of Objects / 5. Individuation / e. Individuation by kind]

Full Idea

To say that x falls under f - or that x is an f - is to say what x is (in the sense Aristotle isolated).

Gist of Idea

In Aristotle's sense, saying x falls under f is to say what x is

Source

David Wiggins (Sameness and Substance [1980], 2.1)

Book Reference

Wiggins,David: 'Sameness and Substance' [Blackwell 1980], p.48


A Reaction

This is a key claim in Wiggins's main principle. I'm not convinced. He wants one main sortal to do all the work. I don't think Aristotle at all intended the 'nature' of an individual thing to be given by a single sortal under which it falls.