Single Idea 16699

[catalogued under 9. Objects / E. Objects over Time / 6. Successive Things]

Full Idea

For existence to hold of completely successive entities it is not required that their parts exist, but that one part succeed another, as a future part succeeds a past part.

Gist of Idea

Successive entities just need parts to succeed one another, without their existence

Source

Albert of Saxony (On 'Physics' [1357], III.3 ad 2), quoted by Robert Pasnau - Metaphysical Themes 1274-1671 18.3

Book Reference

Pasnau,Robert: 'Metaphysical Themes 1274-1671' [OUP 2011], p.386


A Reaction

A nice move, but it doesn't quite solve it. How can non-existent things 'succeed one another'? It is worrying for metaphysics that some things have entirely different concepts of persistence from other things.

Related Idea

Idea 16698 Days exist, and yet they seem to be made up of parts which don't exist [Burley]