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Single Idea 7939

[from 'Varieties of Things' by Cynthia Macdonald, in 9. Objects / B. Unity of Objects / 2. Substance / e. Substance critique ]

Full Idea

Substances are capable of persisting through change, where this involves change in properties; but the bundle theory has the consequence that substances cannot survive change.

Gist of Idea

Substances persist through change, but the bundle theory says they can't

Source

Cynthia Macdonald (Varieties of Things [2005], Ch.3)

Book Reference

Macdonald,Cynthia: 'Varieties of Things' [Blackwell 2005], p.102


A Reaction

Her example is an apple remaining an apple when it turns brown. It doesn't look, though, as if there is a precise moment when the apple-substance ceases. The end of an apple seems to be more a matter of a loss of crucial properties.