Single Idea 8291

[catalogued under 9. Objects / A. Existence of Objects / 5. Individuation / e. Individuation by kind]

Full Idea

A principle of individuation tells us what is to count as one instance of a given kind, such as one ship. A criterion of identity is what makes for the identity or diversity of items of a given kind, to distinguish this ship from that ship.

Gist of Idea

Individuation principles identify what kind it is; identity criteria distinguish items of the same kind

Source

E.J. Lowe (The Possibility of Metaphysics [1998], 9.5)

Book Reference

Lowe,E.J.: 'The Possibility of Metaphysics' [OUP 2001], p.200


A Reaction

So individuation picks out type/qualitative identity, and identifying picks out token/numerical identity. This agrees with Idea 7926, but is a shift from the usage Lowe mentions in Idea 8290. Common usage makes the technical terms unclear.

Related Ideas

Idea 8290 One view is that two objects of the same type are only distinguished by differing in matter [Lowe]

Idea 7926 We 'individuate' kinds of object, and 'identify' particular specimens [Macdonald,C]