Single Idea 19302

[catalogued under 9. Objects / C. Structure of Objects / 5. Composition of an Object]

Full Idea

How shall we prevent a sorites taking us to the conclusion that a chair might have originated in a completely disjoint lot of wood, or even in some other material altogether?

Clarification

A 'sorites' is a slippery slope

Gist of Idea

If a chair could be made of slightly different material, that could lead to big changes

Source

Bob Hale (Necessary Beings [2013], 11.3.7)

Book Reference

Hale,Bob: 'Necessary Beings' [OUP 2013], p.276


A Reaction

This seems a good criticism of Kripke's implausible claim that his lectern is necessarily (or essentially) made of the piece of wood it is made of. Could his lectern have had a small piece of plastic inserted in it?