Single Idea 12823

[catalogued under 4. Formal Logic / G. Formal Mereology / 2. Terminology of Mereology]

Full Idea

Two parts 'overlap' mereologically if and only if they have a part in common, expressed by 'x o y', read as 'x overlaps y'. Overlapping is reflexive and symmetric but not transitive.

Gist of Idea

Overlap: two parts overlap iff they have a part in common, expressed as 'x o y'

Source

Peter Simons (Parts [1987], 1.1.03)

Book Reference

Simons,Peter: 'Parts: a Study in Ontology' [OUP 1987], p.11


A Reaction

Simons points out that we are uncomfortable with overlapping (as in overlapping national boundaries), because we seem to like conceptual boundaries. We avoid overlap even in ordering primary colour terms, by having a no-man's-land.