Class notes
Metaphysics lecture notes - Objects & identity (1)
- Course
- Institution
Lecture notes for third-year metaphysics module
[Show more]
Seller
Follow
emmalmartinelli
Content preview
XV. Objects & identity (I): identity through timeXV. a. Definitions
- Synchronic identity = identity at time
- Diachronic identity = identity across time
- Numerical & qualitative identity ≠ separate identity relations only identity
relation = numerical identity
o Numerical identity relating different things including qualitative identity
o Substance undergoing various changes in properties (= qualitative
changes) numerical identity persisting through qualitative changes
in properties
Example: chair painted white
o Qualitative identity = numerical identity of properties of entity
- Mereological change
o Sums (i.e., pile of stones): identity ≠ persisting through change in parts
(= deduction/addition in parts) ≠ sustaining mereological change
o Composite substances (i.e., chair): identity persisting through change
in parts = identity enduring within limit of gain/loss/modification of parts
XV. b. The Ship of Theseus
- Problem: identity persisting through change in parts of entity
- Ship of Theseus puzzle: ship brough to Athens & kept in harbour – gradual
removal/replacement of parts of ship with exact replica parts until ≠ original
parts of ship remaining on ship question identity resulting ship
XV. c. Possible responses to the Ship of Theseus problem
1) Ship of Theseus = composite entity mereologically variable identity of
ship persisting through change in parts
- Problem: identity persisting through limited mereological change ≠ total
change in all parts
o Problem: determining exact moment & criteria for identifying when
original ship ceasing to exist & beginning of existence of ‘new’ ship
Arbitrary nature of criteria + transitivity of identity – unsatisfactory
answer
2) Ship ≠ mereologically variable identity of original ship ≠ persisting
through change in parts first change in part ending existence of original
ship & beginning existence of ‘new’ ship
- Problem: extended scenario – all original parts of ‘original’ ship removed &
reassembled in original design in warehouse question ship in
harbour/warehouse retaining identity of ‘original’ ship––
o Impossibility of labelling ship in harbour & ship in warehouse both
‘original’ ship due to transitivity of identity
o Extended scenario 2: ‘original’ ship simply disassembled &
reassembled in warehouse with exact same parts in exact same
‘original’ design intuition of identity persisting through disassembly
& reassembly
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller emmalmartinelli. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $7.83. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
Can Stuvia be trusted?
4.6 stars on Google & Trustpilot (+1000 reviews)
75759 documents were sold in the last 30 days
Founded in 2010, the go-to place to buy study notes for 14 years now