Single Idea 15537

[catalogued under 9. Objects / B. Unity of Objects / 3. Unity Problems / b. Cat and its tail]

Full Idea

To deny that there are many cats on the mat (because removal of a few hairs seems to produce a new one), we must either deny that the many are cats, or else deny that the cats are many. ...I think both alternatives lead to successful solutions.

Gist of Idea

If cats are vague, we deny that the many cats are one, or deny that the one cat is many

Source

David Lewis (Many, but almost one [1993], 'The paradox')

Book Reference

Lewis,David: 'Papers in Metaphysics and Epistemology' [CUP 1999], p.167


A Reaction

He credits the problem to Geach (and Tibbles), and says it is the same as Unger's 'problem of the many' (Idea 15536).

Related Idea

Idea 15536 We have one cloud, but many possible boundaries and aggregates for it [Lewis]