Ideas from 'Types and Ontology' by Fred Sommers [1963], by Theme Structure

[found in 'Philosophical Logic' (ed/tr Strawson,P.F.) [OUP 1973,0-19-875004-8]].

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7. Existence / E. Categories / 1. Categories
Categories can't overlap; they are either disjoint, or inclusive
                        Full Idea: Fred Sommers, in his treatment of types, says that two ontological categories cannot overlap; they are either disjoint, or one properly includes the other. This is sometimes referred to as Sommers' Law.
                        From: report of Fred Sommers (Types and Ontology [1963], p.355) by Jan Westerhoff - Ontological Categories §24
                        A reaction: The 'types', of course, go back to Bertrand Russell's theory of types, which is important in discussions of ontological categories. Carnap pursued it, trying to derive ontological categories from grammatical categories. 85% agree with Sommers.