Single Idea 12881

[catalogued under 7. Existence / B. Change in Existence / 3. Moments]

Full Idea

A smiling, being an event, has causes and effects, whereas the smile thereby produced is a continuant, and has itself neither causes nor effects.

Gist of Idea

A smiling is an event with causes, but the smile is a continuant without causes

Source

Peter Simons (Parts [1987], 8.5)

Book Reference

Simons,Peter: 'Parts: a Study in Ontology' [OUP 1987], p.307


A Reaction

This is dogmatic, hopeful and a bit dubious. Simons is very scathing about processes in ontology. There seem to be two descriptions, with distinctive syntax, but it is hard to believe that in reality we have two types of thing present.