Full Idea
Quine's well-known slogan "no entity without identity" means that no object should be admitted into our ontology unless its identity conditions, the conditions that say which object it is, have been settled.
Clarification
Our 'ontology' is what we believe exists
Gist of Idea
"No entity without identity" - our ontology must contain items with settled identity conditions
Source
report of Willard Quine (Speaking of Objects [1960]) by Joseph Melia - Modality Ch.4
Book Reference
Melia,Joseph: 'Modality' [Acumen 2003], p.95
A Reaction
This invites science fiction scenarios, where we admit the existence of something before we have a clue what it is (whether it is physical, hallucination, divine..). Quine's slogan seems attractive but optimistic. How 'settled'?