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4 ideas
12871 | Objects have their essential properties because of the kind of objects they are [Simons] |
Full Idea: An object has the essential properties it has in virtue of being the kind of object it is. | |
From: Peter Simons (Parts [1987], 7.1) | |
A reaction: He attributes this to Husserl and Wiggins. I just don't get it. What makes something the 'kind of object it is'? They've got it the wrong way round. Does God announce that this thing is a tiger, and is then pleasantly surprised to discover its stripes? |
12870 | We must distinguish the de dicto 'must' of propositions from the de re 'must' of essence [Simons] |
Full Idea: We must distinguish the 'must' of necessity as applied to a proposition or state of affairs (de dicto) from the 'must' of essence, concerning the way in which an object has an attribute (de re). | |
From: Peter Simons (Parts [1987], 7.1) | |
A reaction: A helfpful distinction, but a possible confusion of necessity and essentiality (Simons knows this). Modern logicians seem to run them together, because they only care about identity. I don't, because I care about explanations. |
12873 | Original parts are the best candidates for being essential to artefacts [Simons] |
Full Idea: Original parts are the best candidates for being essential to artefacts. It is hard to conceive how an object could have as essential a part which was attached at some time after the object had come into being. | |
From: Peter Simons (Parts [1987], 7.4) | |
A reaction: Without its big new memory upgrade my computer would be hopelessly out of date. Simons is awesome in some ways, but seems rather confused when it comes to discussing essence. I think Wiggins may have been a bad influence on him. |
12874 | An essential part of an essential part is an essential part of the whole [Simons] |
Full Idea: An essential part of an essential part is an essential part of the whole. | |
From: Peter Simons (Parts [1987], 7.4) | |
A reaction: Sounds beyond dispute, but worth pondering. It seems to be only type-parts, not token-parts, which are essential. Simons is thinking of identity rather than function, but he rejects Chisholm's idea that all parts are essential. So which ones are? |