Principle of individuation: Difference between revisions

Content deleted Content added

Inline

Revision as of 16:15, 27 September 2008

The Principle of Individuation is a criterion which supposedly individuates or numerically distinguishes the members of the kind for which it is given, i.e. by which we can supposedly determine, regarding any kind of thing, when we have more than one of them or not^[1]. It is also known as a 'criterion of identity' or 'indiscernibility principle'. The history of the consideration of such a principle begins with Aristotle ^[2]. It was much discussed by the medieval philosophers, particularly Bonaventura and Scotus, and later by Suarez and Leibniz. Some philosophers have denied the need for any such principle.

References

Jaegwon Kim, Ernest Sosa, A Companion to Metaphysics Blackwell Publishing, 1995

Notes

^ Kim & Sosa p. 240
^ Metaphysics 1034a 5-8

[1] Kim & Sosa p. 240

[2] Metaphysics 1034a 5-8

[1]

[2]

Revision as of 16:14, 27 September 2008 edit Paulatim (talk \| contribs) 213 edits No edit summary ← Previous edit		Revision as of 16:15, 27 September 2008 edit undo Paulatim (talk \| contribs) 213 edits No edit summary Next edit →
Line 1:		Line 1:
	The '''Principle of Individuation''' is a criterion which supposedly individuates or numerically distinguishes the members of the kind for which it is given, i.e. by which we can supposedly determine, regarding any kind of thing, when we have more than one of them or not<ref>Kim & Sosa p. 240</ref>. It is also known as a 'criterion of identity' or 'indiscernibility principle'. The ~~search~~ ~~for~~ such a principle begins with [[Aristotle]] <ref>[[Metaphysics]] 1034a 5-8</ref>. It was much discussed by the [[Medieval philosophy \| medieval philosophers]], particularly [[Bonaventura]] and [[Scotus]], and later by [[Suarez]] and [[Leibniz]]. Some philosophers have denied the need for any such principle.		The '''Principle of Individuation''' is a criterion which supposedly individuates or numerically distinguishes the members of the kind for which it is given, i.e. by which we can supposedly determine, regarding any kind of thing, when we have more than one of them or not<ref>Kim & Sosa p. 240</ref>. It is also known as a 'criterion of identity' or 'indiscernibility principle'. The history of the consideration of such a principle begins with [[Aristotle]] <ref>[[Metaphysics]] 1034a 5-8</ref>. It was much discussed by the [[Medieval philosophy \| medieval philosophers]], particularly [[Bonaventura]] and [[Scotus]], and later by [[Suarez]] and [[Leibniz]]. Some philosophers have denied the need for any such principle.

	== References ==		== References ==