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18965 | We know what things are by distinguishing them, so identity is part of ontology [Quine] |
Full Idea: We cannot know what something is without knowing how it is marked off from other things. Identity is thus of a piece with ontology. | |
From: Willard Quine (Ontological Relativity [1968], p.55) | |
A reaction: Actually it is failure of identity which seems to raise questions of individuation. If I say 'this apple is [pause] identical to this apple', I don't see how that helps me to individuate apples. |