Single Idea 10397

[catalogued under 4. Formal Logic / G. Formal Mereology / 1. Mereology]

Full Idea

Abelard's theory of substantial integral wholes is not a pure mereology in the modern sense, since he holds that there are privileged divisions; ..the division of a whole must be into its principal parts. Some wholes have a natural division.

Gist of Idea

Abelard's mereology involves privileged and natural divisions, and principal parts

Source

report of Peter Abelard (works [1135]) by Peter King - Peter Abelard 2

Book Reference

'Stanford Online Encyclopaedia of Philosophy', ed/tr. Stanford University [plato.stanford.edu], p.8


A Reaction

This is a mereology that cuts nature at the joints, rather than Lewis's 'unrestricted composition', so I find Abelard rather appealing.