Single Idea 14743

[catalogued under 9. Objects / B. Unity of Objects / 3. Unity Problems / d. Coincident objects]

Full Idea

There are numerous cases in which there is pressure to admit coincident entities. The best way of coming to grips with this, I think, invokes the stage view. ...In the worm theory, coincident objects are no more mysterious than overlapping roads.

Clarification

A 'stage' is a 'temporal part'. 'Worm' theory says objects are spread out over time

Gist of Idea

The stage view of objects is best for dealing with coincident entities

Source

Theodore Sider (Four Dimensionalism [2001], 5.1)

Book Reference

Sider,Theodore: 'Four Dimensionalism' [OUP 2003], p.152


A Reaction

At this point I get nervous if in order to 'get to grips' with a phenomenon which is hard to articulate but obvious to common sense, we have to invoke a rather startling metaphysics that completely upends the common sense we started with.