Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-rcrh6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-04T20:08:14.101Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Particulars, Positional Qualities, and Individuation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 April 2022

L. Nathan Oaklander
L. Nathan Oaklander*
Affiliation:
University of Michigan-Flint
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

In this paper I attempt to show that an argument offered by Bergmann and Hausman against positional qualities and for bare particulars as individuators is unsound. I proceed by giving two ontological assays of an ordinary thing and showing that the entity that individuates on one assay—a bare particular—does not provide deeper ontological ground of individuation than the entity that individuates on the other assay—a positional quality. Since the argument for particulars is based on the premise that only particulars can ground individuation as deeply as is required, it follows that Bergmann and Hausman have not proved particulars are necessary and that positional qualities are insufficient for individuation.

Type
Research Article
Information
Philosophy of Science , Volume 44 , Issue 3 , September 1977 , pp. 478 - 490
Copyright
Copyright © 1977 by the Philosophy of Science Association

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Footnotes

†

I wish to thank Silvano Miracchi and Philosophy of Science's anonymous referee for helpful comments, and the Faculty Research and Special Projects Fund of The University of Michigan for their support.

References

[1] Allaire, E. B. “Ontology and Acquaintance: A Reply to Clatterbaugh.” Philosophy of Science 32 (1965): 277–280.10.1086/288050CrossRefGoogle Scholar
[2] Bergmann, G. Realism: A Critique of Brentano and Meinong. Madison: University of Wisconsin Press, 1967.Google Scholar
[3] Bergmann, G. “Ineffability, Ontology, and Method.” Philosophical Review 69: (1960): 18–40. Reprinted in Logic and Reality, Madison: University of Wisconsin Press, 1964.Google Scholar
[4] Bergmann, G. “Some Reflections on Time.” In The meaning of Existence, University of Wisconsin Press, Madison, 1960, pp. 225–263.Google Scholar
[5] Castañeda, H-N. “Individuation and Non-Identity: A New Look.” American Philosophical Quarterly 12: (1975): 131–140.Google Scholar
[6] Clatterbaugh, G. “General Ontology and the Principle of Acquaintance.” Philosophy of Science. 32 (1965): 272–276.10.1086/288049CrossRefGoogle Scholar
[7] Goodman, N. The Structure of Appearance. New York: The Bobbs-Merrill Co., 1965.Google Scholar
[8] Hausman, A., Goodman's Ontology, In Carnap and Goodman: Two Formalists. Hague: Martinus Nijohoff, 1967, pp. 1–95.Google Scholar
[9] Grossmann, R. Reflections on Frege's Philosophy. Evanston: Northwestern University Press, 1969.Google Scholar
[10] Russell, B. “The Problem of Universale,” Polemic 2:(1946): 21–35.10.2307/486493CrossRefGoogle Scholar
[11] Russell, B. Human Knowledge, Its Scope and Limits. New York: Humanities Press, Inc., 1948.Google Scholar
[12] Russell, B. An Inquiry Into Meaning and Truth. Baltimore: Penguin Books, 1962.Google Scholar