Essential bundle theory and modality

Jago, Mark

Abstract

Bundle theories identify material objects with bundles of properties. On the traditional approach, these are the properties possessed by that material object. That view faces a deep problem: it seems to say that all of an object’s properties are essential to it. Essential bundle theory attempts to overcome this objection, by taking the bundle as a specification of the object’s essential properties only. In this paper, I show that essential bundle theory faces a variant of the objection. To avoid the problem, the theory must accept the contingency of identity. I show how this can be achieved in a coherent and well-motivated way, a way that isn’t available to traditional bundle theories.

Citation

Jago, M. (2021). Essential bundle theory and modality. Synthese, 198(4), 1439–1454. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11229-018-1819-3

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: May 19, 2018
• Online Publication Date: Jun 1, 2018
• Publication Date: 2021-04
• Deposit Date: May 31, 2018
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 1, 2018
• Journal: Synthese
• Print ISSN: 0039-7857
• Electronic ISSN: 1573-0964
• Publisher: Springer Verlag
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 198
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 1439–1454
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11229-018-1819-3
• Keywords: Essence; Modality; Bundle theory; Essential bundle theory; Material objects; Contingent identity; Counterpart theory; Metaphysics
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/935341
• Publisher URL: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11229-018-1819-3