more from Cover,J/O'Leary-Hawthorne,J

Single Idea 13100

[catalogued under 9. Objects / B. Unity of Objects / 2. Substance / a. Substance]

Full Idea

We could think of 'substance' on the model of a mass noun, rather than a count noun.

Gist of Idea

Maybe 'substance' is more of a mass-noun than a count-noun

Source

Cover,J/O'Leary-Hawthorne,J (Substance and Individuation in Leibniz [1999], 7.3)

Book Reference

Cover,J/O'Leary-Hawthorne,J: 'Substance and Individuation in Leibniz' [CUP 1999], p.269


A Reaction

They offer this to help Leibniz out of a mess, but I think he would be appalled. The proposal seems close to 'prime matter' in Aristotle, which never quite does the job required of it. The idea is nice, though, and should be taken seriously.