Meaning of haecceitistically | Babel Free

Definitions

In a haecceitistic manner.

Examples

“[…] I am contemplating the possibility of being poor Fred in a world just life this one. The Haecceitist will suggest⟳ that I have⟳ in mind⟳ a qualitative duplicate of this world where the nonqualitative determinants of cross-identification somehow link⟳ me with the qualitative counterpart of Fred. But this distorts my thought: I thought not just that I might have⟳ lived Fred's life, but that I might have⟳ been Fred living Fred's life. […] I suggest⟳ that the possibility I have⟳ in mind⟳ is not a world that is like⟳ ours qualitatively but differs from ours Haecceitistically.”

“[T]here are no clear actual cases of individual substances discernible only with respect⟳ to relational and haecceitistic properties. On the other hand, there do seem to be pairs of possible individuals which differ⟳ only with respect⟳ to such properties. Max Black has argued that there is a possible universe containing only two qualitatively indiscernible brass spheres. These spheres will have⟳ the same mass, shape⟳, color; be made of the same kind of stuff; and so on. But they will differ⟳ with respect⟳ to spatial relational properties involving the haecceity of what they're made of, such as being made of this matter⟳, as well as differing with respect⟳ to purely haecceitistic properties like⟳ being this and impurely haecceitistic properties like⟳ being this brass sphere. If, as seems plausible, there are possible universes of the sort⟳ Black envisions, then there are individuals that cannot be distinguished save⟳ relationally or haecceitistically.”

“Two individuals differ⟳ haecceitistically just in case they have⟳ different haecceities. Differing haecceitistically is consistent with sharing many properties and also with differing with respect⟳ to many properties. In contrast, two individuals differ⟳ merely haecceitistically just in case they share⟳ all the same properties but differ⟳ haecceitistically. Haecceitism entails that there is a possible world qualitatively identical to, but nevertheless distinct from, the actual world where my haecceity is swapped with yours.”

“[H]aecceitism leads to trouble⟳ in a way that quidditism does not. Suppose⟳ we allegedly have⟳ two indiscernible worlds that differ⟳ haecceitistically: at the place⟳ where individual A is in W₁, B is in W₂, and vice versa. We ask⟳: in virtue of what does B rather than A occupy⟳ that place⟳ in W₂? Because the worlds are indiscernible, it seems we can have⟳ no informative answer⟳. We can only say⟳ "It just does". That is, we need⟳ to invoke the transworld identity of B in W₁ with B in W₂.”

“Bill's and Tina's experiential properties differ⟳ haecceitistically in their object but are indiscriminable; Bill's and Inez's experiential properties differ⟳ quidditistically in their object but are indiscriminable; Bill's and Dean's experiential properties differ⟳ with respect⟳ to factivity, and haecceitistically and quidditistically in their object.”

CEFR level