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Single Idea 11874

[from 'Essays on Intellectual Powers 5: Abstraction' by Thomas Reid, in 9. Objects / F. Identity among Objects / 1. Concept of Identity ]

Full Idea

Wherever identity is real, it admits of no degrees.

Gist of Idea

Real identity admits of no degrees

Source

Thomas Reid (Essays on Intellectual Powers 5: Abstraction [1785]), quoted by David Wiggins - Sameness and Substance Renewed 6 epig

Book Reference

Wiggins,David: 'Sameness and Substance Renewed' [CUP 2001], p.157


A Reaction

Wiggins quotes this with strong approval. Personally I am inclined to think that identity may admit of no degrees in human thought, because that is the only way we can do it, but the world is full of uncertain identities, at every level.