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Single Idea 8296

[from 'The Possibility of Metaphysics' by E.J. Lowe, in 8. Modes of Existence / B. Properties / 13. Tropes / b. Critique of tropes ]

Full Idea

If a round ball fits snugly into a round piece of plaster, do they contain the same roundness trope, or do they contain numerically distinct but exactly similar and coinciding roundness tropes?

Gist of Idea

Does a ball snug in plaster have one trope, or two which coincide?

Source

E.J. Lowe (The Possibility of Metaphysics [1998], 9.8)

Book Reference

Lowe,E.J.: 'The Possibility of Metaphysics' [OUP 2001], p.208


A Reaction

A microscope would distinguish them, and they are made of different types of matter. Is a hole in a piece of paper a circular cut and a circular area of space? Neither example looks good for tropes.