Single Idea 12805

[catalogued under 9. Objects / D. Essence of Objects / 13. Nominal Essence]

Full Idea

If one person applies the name 'avarice' to one resemblance, and some one else to another, there will be two different species designated by the same name.

Gist of Idea

If two people apply a single term to different resemblances, they refer to two different things

Source

Gottfried Leibniz (New Essays on Human Understanding [1704], 6.6.292), quoted by Nicholas Jolley - Leibniz and Locke on Essences p.199

Book Reference

'Leibniz: Critical and Interpretive Essays', ed/tr. Hooker,Michael [Manchester 1982], p.199


A Reaction

Part of Leibniz's sustained attack on Locke's nominal essences. There is clearly an uninteresting nominal essence, where a 'big brown bear' is necessarily brown, but in the interesting respects I think Leibniz is right.