The Restricted Composition of Material Objects
The Special Composition Question asks for the jointly necessary and sufficient conditions for some material objects (say, some wooden slats) to compose a further material object (say,. a cupboard). The most popular philosophical answer is universalism: that the material objects always compose a further material object. This thesis attempts to rebut universalism, leaving me to take the more 'common-sense' positionth~t composition is restricted - that it sometimes takes place, and sometimes does not. Towards that end I offer my own response to the Special Composition . . Question: that the material objects compose a further object if and only if the object they composed would be causally efficacious. At each stage I tie these issues into the metaphysics of persistence i.e. whether objects 'endure' or 'perdure'. ĂâĂÂ§l is a general introduction, with a list ofmy assumptions. ĂâĂÂ§2 is an expositio~ofmereology (the logic of part and .whole), chorology (the logic of location), the theories of persistence. (endurantism/perdurantism) and some miscellaneous - but)mportant - issues in composition. InĂâĂÂ§3 - ĂâĂÂ§5 I attempt to refute universalism. Given that there is an intuitive cost attached to universalism
Effingham, Nicholas James
The Restricted Composition of Material Objects. The Special Composition Question asks for the jointly necessary and sufficient conditions for some material objects (say, some wooden slats) to compose a further material object (say,. a cupboard). The most popular philosophical answer is universalism: that the material objects always compose a further material object. This thesis attempts to rebut universalism, leaving me to take the more 'common-sense' positionth~t composition is restricted - that it sometimes takes place, and sometimes does not. Towards that end I offer my own response to the Special Composition . . Question: that the material objects compose a further object if and only if the object they composed would be causally efficacious. At each stage I tie these issues into the metaphysics of persistence i.e. whether objects 'endure' or 'perdure'. ĂâĂÂ§l is a general introduction, with a list ofmy assumptions. ĂâĂÂ§2 is an expositio~ofmereology (the logic of part and .whole), chorology (the logic of location), the theories of persistence. (endurantism/perdurantism) and some miscellaneous - but)mportant - issues in composition. InĂâĂÂ§3 - ĂâĂÂ§5 I attempt to refute universalism. Given that there is an intuitive cost attached to universalism
restricted composition material objects special composition question_ask jointly necessary_sufficient condition material_object say wooden compose material_object say popular philosophical answer universalism material_object always compose material_object attempt rebut universalism leave take common_sense composition restrict sometimes take_place sometimes not towards_end offer response special composition question material_object compose object object compose would causally efficacious stage tie issue metaphysics persistence whether object endure general_introduction list assumption logic part_whole logic location theory_persistence miscellaneous issue composition attempt refute universalism given intuitive cost attach universalism