Single Idea 13809

[catalogued under 9. Objects / D. Essence of Objects / 11. Essence of Artefacts]

Full Idea

In the case of artefacts, there is an essentialism about original matter; for instance, it would be said of any particular bronze statue that it could not have been cast from a totally different quantity of bronze.

Gist of Idea

One might be essentialist about the original bronze from which a statue was made

Source

Graeme Forbes (In Defense of Absolute Essentialism [1986], 3)

Book Reference

'Midwest Studs XI:Essentialism', ed/tr. French,Uehling,Wettstein [Minnesota 1986], p.10


A Reaction

Forbes isn't endorsing this, and it doesn't sound convincing. He quotes the thought 'I wish I had made this pot from a different piece of clay'. We might corrupt a statue by switching bronze, but I don't think the sculptor could do so.