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Single Idea 15744

[from 'On the Plurality of Worlds' by David Lewis, in 8. Modes of Existence / B. Properties / 5. Natural Properties ]

Full Idea

Shall we say that natural properties are the ones whose instances are united by resemblance? - Not if we are going to say that resemblance is the sharing of natural properties.

Gist of Idea

We can't define natural properties by resemblance, if they are used to explain resemblance

Source

David Lewis (On the Plurality of Worlds [1986], 1.5)

Book Reference

Lewis,David: 'On the Plurality of Worlds' [Blackwell 2001], p.63


A Reaction

The target of this appears to be the proposal of Quinton. By now I have totally given up on so-called 'natural' properties. Lewis says the circularity (also in Idea 15743) is a reason to treat 'natural' here as primitive (though he rejects that).

Related Idea

Idea 9407 Properties imply natural classes which can be picked out by everybody [Quinton]