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Single Idea 12252

[from 'Real Essentialism' by David S. Oderberg, in 9. Objects / B. Unity of Objects / 2. Substance / e. Substance critique ]

Full Idea

The demise of 'substance' was wholly due to mistaken notions, mainly from the empiricists, by which it was conceived either as an unknowable featureless substratum, or as dispensable in favour of some or other bundle theory.

Gist of Idea

Empiricists gave up 'substance', as unknowable substratum, or reducible to a bundle

Source

David S. Oderberg (Real Essentialism [2007], 4.4)

Book Reference

Oderberg,David S.: 'Real Essentialism' [Routledge 2009], p.76


A Reaction

There seems to be a view that the notion of substance is essential to explaining how we understand the world. I am inclined to think that if we accept the notion of essence we can totally dispense with the notion of substance.