Ideas from 'External and Internal Relations' by G.E. Moore [1919], by Theme Structure

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8. Modes of Existence / A. Relations / 2. Internal Relations
A relation is internal if two things possessing the relation could not fail to be related
                        Full Idea: Moore characterises internal relations modally, as those essential to their relata. If a and b are related R-wise, and R is an internal relation, a and b could not fail to be so related; otherwise R is external.
                        From: report of G.E. Moore (External and Internal Relations [1919]) by John Heil - Relations 'Internal'
                        A reaction: I don't think of Moore as an essentialist, but this fits the essentialist picture nicely, and is probably best paraphrased in terms of powers. Integers are the standard example of internal relations.