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    The name 'sun' may be truly and properly applied to any s... — Carmelics
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    Home/Philosophy of Language
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    The name 'sun' may be truly and properly applied to any substance that possesses the combination of sensible qualities by which things called 'sun' are distinguished from other substances.

    Truth & Knowledge
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    1 reason for
    2 reasons against

    Reasons For

    1 perspective
    Reason for
    ?
    • 1.Distinguishing substances into species by names is founded on nominal essence, not real essence.
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    • 2.The nominal essence of the sun is the combination of sensible qualities by which anything called 'sun' is distinguished from other substances.
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    • 3.A 'true sun' is anything to which the name 'sun' may be truly and properly applied.
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    Reasons Against

    2 perspectives
    Reason against 1 of 2
    ?
    • 1.Natural kind terms like 'sun' are rigid designators that pick out their referents via causal-historical links, not clusters of sensible qualities.
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    • 2.Kripke and Putnam demonstrate that we can be systematically wrong about the sensible qualities of a natural kind while still referring to that kind correctly.
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    • 3.Therefore, a substance possessing all the nominal qualities of the sun but lacking its underlying nature would not be a true sun, only a qualitative duplicate.
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    Reason against 2 of 2
    ?
    • 1.Locke's own account concedes that real essences—the internal constitutions of substances—determine which sensible qualities reliably co-occur in nature.
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    • 2.If nominal essence is parasitic on real essence for its stability and projectibility, then species membership cannot be grounded in nominal essence alone without circularity.
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    Topics

    Philosophy of LanguageTruth & Knowledge

    Key Terms

    properly applied(as used in logic and philosophy of language)
    Correctly or accurately used; following the right rules or standards for when a word should be used to describe something.
    sensible qualities(Contrasted with the hidden powers of bodies to explain the limits of empirical knowledge.)
    The observable, perceptible properties of physical objects, as distinct from their underlying causal powers.
    substance(Spinoza's metaphysics; criteria include (i) necessity and (ii) self-subsistence)
    The fundamental existent that is wholly necessary and self-subsistent, not depending on anything else for its existence

    Connections

    1 topic

    Proof of definition segments1 linked

    Related

    A 'true sun' is anything to which the name 'sun' may be truly and properly appli...Distinguishing substances into species by names is founded on nominal essence, n...If nominal essence is parasitic on real essence for its stability and projectibi...Kripke and Putnam demonstrate that we can be systematically wrong about the sens...
    +4 moreShow less
    Locke's own account concedes that real essences—the internal constitutions of su...Natural kind terms like 'sun' are rigid designators that pick out their referent...

    Similar

    A 'true sun' is anything to which the name 'sun' may be truly and prop...88%The nominal essence of the sun is the combination of sensible qualitie...85%The sun deserves the extrinsic denomination 'idea of the sun' in virtu...81%The sun can be called an 'idea of the sun' without the idea being a se...80%

    Source

    AI-extracted1/3 agreementValid
    SEP: real-essence
    View source passageHide passage
    Your lordship’s proof here brought out of my Essay, concerning the sun, I humbly conceive will not reach it; because what is said there, does not at all concern the real, but nominal essence; as is evident from hence, that the idea I speak of there, is a complex idea; but we have no complex idea of the internal constitution, or real essence of the sun. Besides, I say expressly, that our distinguishing substances into species by names, is not at all founded on their real essences. So that the sun
    Extraction notes

    Validity: Extracted via Max plan + API grounding/validity checks

    Details

    The nominal essence of the sun is the combination of sensible qualities by which...
    Therefore, a substance possessing all the nominal qualities of the sun but lacki...
    Type
    claim
    Perspectives
    3 (1 for, 2 against)
    Edits
    1 edit