Single Idea 15454

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

Full Idea

Properties may be more or less intrinsic; being a brother has more of an admixture of intrinsic structure than being a sibling does, yet both are extrinsic.

Gist of Idea

Extrinsic properties come in degrees, with 'brother' less extrinsic than 'sibling'

Source

David Lewis (Extrinsic Properties [1983], I)

Book Reference

Lewis,David: 'Papers in Metaphysics and Epistemology' [CUP 1999], p.111


A Reaction

I suppose the point is that a brother is intrinsically male - but then a sibling is intrinsically human. A totally extrinsic relation would be one between entities which shared virtually no categories of existence.