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    Scotus's formal distinction allows real entities to be re... — Carmelics
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    Challenges→Formal identity is stronger than real (or essential) identity

    Scotus's formal distinction allows real entities to be really identical yet formally distinct, meaning formal non-identity is compatible with real identity.

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    1 reason for
    1 reason against

    Reasons For

    1 perspective
    Reason for
    ?
    • 1.Divine attributes (justice, mercy) are really identical in God yet conceptually distinct to finite minds, requiring a distinction beyond real identity.
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    • 2.Essence and existence in creatures differ in how we apprehend them despite being one thing, suggesting formal distinction captures this epistemic gap.
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    • 3.Some properties of objects (shape, color) seem genuinely unified yet our concepts treat them separately, vindicating formal non-identity without real separation.
      ?

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    Reasons Against

    1 perspective
    Reason against
    ?
    • 1.If two things are really identical, any intelligible difference between them must reduce to subjective conceptualization, making 'formal distinction' explanatorily empty.
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    • 2.Formal distinction threatens the logical principle that if A is identical to B and B is identical to C, then A is identical to C without residual non-identity.
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    • 3.The distinction collapses into either real difference (violating real identity) or mere mental distinction (offering no metaphysical insight beyond nominalism).
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    Connections

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    Modality & Possibility1 linkedPersonal Identity1 linked

    Related

    Divine attributes (justice, mercy) are really identical in God yet conceptually ...Essence and existence in creatures differ in how we apprehend them despite being...Formal distinction threatens the logical principle that if A is identical to B a...Formal identity is stronger than real (or essential) identity
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    If two things are really identical, any intelligible difference between them mus...Some properties of objects (shape, color) seem genuinely unified yet our concept...The distinction collapses into either real difference (violating real identity) ...

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    Perspectives
    2 (1 for, 1 against)
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