Single Idea 17173

[catalogued under 9. Objects / F. Identity among Objects / 8. Leibniz's Law]

Full Idea

Two substances having different attributes have nothing in common with one another.

Gist of Idea

Two substances can't be the same if they have different attributes

Source

Baruch de Spinoza (The Ethics [1675], I Pr 02)

Book Reference

Spinoza,Benedict de: 'Ethics', ed/tr. White,WH/Stirling,AH [Wordsworth 2001], p.4


A Reaction

This is the contrapositive of Leibniz's Law (i.e of the Indiscernibility of Identicals). Same things must have same attributes, so if the attributes differ they can't be the same things.