Single Idea 14979

[catalogued under 8. Modes of Existence / B. Properties / 4. Intrinsic Properties]

Full Idea

The property of 'being alone in the world' is an extrinsic property, even though it has had by an object that is alone in the world.

Gist of Idea

Being alone doesn't guarantee intrinsic properties; 'being alone' is itself extrinsic

Source

report of David Lewis (Extrinsic Properties [1983]) by Theodore Sider - Writing the Book of the World 01.2

Book Reference

Sider,Theodore: 'Writing the Book of the World' [OUP 2011], p.4


A Reaction

I always choke on my cornflakes whenever anyone cites a true predicate as if it were a genuine property. This is a counterexample to Idea 14978. Sider offers another more elaborate example from Lewis.

Related Idea

Idea 14978 A property is intrinsic if an object alone in the world can instantiate it [Sider]