Single Idea 15856

[catalogued under 9. Objects / B. Unity of Objects / 1. Unifying an Object / c. Unity as conceptual]

Full Idea

It is through discourse that the same thing flits around, becoming one and many in all sorts of ways.

Gist of Idea

A thing can become one or many, depending on how we talk about it

Source

Plato (Philebus [c.354 BCE], 15d)

Book Reference

Plato: 'Complete Works', ed/tr. Cooper,John M. [Hackett 1997], p.403


A Reaction

This is not scepticism about wholes on Plato's part, but a reminder of an obvious fact, that in thought we can break the world up and put it back together again. It is a touchstone of the debate, though.