Full Idea
The existential identity of an object with itself needs analysis into two components, one the neutral identity of the object with itself, and the other its existence. The existence of the object appears to be merely a gratuitous addition to its identity.
Gist of Idea
Self-identity should have two components, its existence, and its neutral identity with itself
Source
Kit Fine (Necessity and Non-Existence [2005], 08)
Book Reference
Fine,Kit: 'Modality and Tense' [OUP 2005], p.344
A Reaction
This is at least a step towards clarification of the notion, which might be seen as just a way of asserting that something 'has an identity'. Fine likes the modern Fregean way of expressing this, as an equality relation.