Single Idea 8277

[catalogued under 9. Objects / A. Existence of Objects / 5. Individuation / a. Individuation]

Full Idea

To adapt Quine's famous slogan ('no entity without identity'), I prefer to say 'no object without identity'.

Gist of Idea

I prefer 'no object without identity' to Quine's 'no entity without identity'

Source

comment on Willard Quine (Speaking of Objects [1960], p.52) by E.J. Lowe - The Possibility of Metaphysics 7.1

Book Reference

Lowe,E.J.: 'The Possibility of Metaphysics' [OUP 2001], p.157


A Reaction

Quine was trying to make us all more scientific, but Lowe is closer to common sense. The sky is an entity, most of us would say, but with very shaky identity-conditions. A wave of the sea is a good example.