Skip to content
Carmelics
TopicsThinkersChangesContributorsLoading account…

    Carmelics

    A reasoning platform. Break down any belief into clear reasons, explore both sides, and weigh the evidence honestly.

    Navigate

    • Topics
    • Search
    • Recent Changes
    • Contribute
    • How It Works
    • Glossary
    • Thinkers
    • Contributors
    • About
    • Statistics
    • Terms
    • Privacy

    Database

    Statements
    —
    Perspectives
    —
    Topics
    —

    Press ? for keyboard shortcuts

    LoyalLoyalJusticeJustice
    Made withinDC&Austin
    Statements
    321,452
    Perspectives
    108,905
    Topics
    42
    There cannot be two individuals that are exactly alike. — Carmelics
    Home/Divine Attributes
    HistoryEditSee Inverse

    There cannot be two individuals that are exactly alike.

    Divine AttributesModality & Possibility
    ?Rate how convincing each reason is below to see the overall strength.
    1 reason for
    2 reasons against

    Reasons For

    1 perspective
    Reason for
    ?
    • 1.The principle of sufficient reason holds that everything has a sufficient reason for being as it is.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 2.If two individuals were exactly alike, there would be no sufficient reason why one individual was in one place while the other was in another place.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    Reasons Against

    2 perspectives
    Reason against 1 of 2
    ?
    • 1.Max Black's two-sphere thought experiment demonstrates that two qualitatively identical objects in a symmetrical universe are conceivable without contradiction.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 2.If numerical distinctness can be grounded in primitive thisness (haecceity) rather than qualitative difference, identical individuals are metaphysically possible.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 3.Therefore, the Identity of Indiscernibles (Leibniz's Law converse) is not a necessary truth, and exactly alike individuals may exist as numerically distinct entities.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    Reason against 2 of 2
    ?
    • 1.Leibniz's argument from sufficient reason assumes space is relational, but under Newtonian absolute space, two identical objects occupy distinct positions by brute fact.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 2.If spatial location is itself an individuating primitive independent of qualitative properties, the demand for a further sufficient reason why one is here and not there is ill-formed.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 3.The principle of sufficient reason thus fails to preclude identical individuals when individuation is grounded in absolute spatiotemporal position rather than intrinsic properties.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    Sign in or register to share your perspective on this statement.

    Next step

    Based on where you are in your exploration

    Strongest counterpoint
    Explore the most compelling reason on the other side.

    Topics

    Divine AttributesModality & Possibility

    Connections

    1 topic

    Causation2 linked

    Related

    If numerical distinctness can be grounded in primitive thisness (haecceity) rath...If spatial location is itself an individuating primitive independent of qualitat...If two individuals were exactly alike, there would be no sufficient reason why o...Leibniz's argument from sufficient reason assumes space is relational, but under...
    +4 moreShow less
    Max Black's two-sphere thought experiment demonstrates that two qualitatively id...The principle of sufficient reason holds that everything has a sufficient reason...The principle of sufficient reason thus fails to preclude identical individuals ...Therefore, the Identity of Indiscernibles (Leibniz's Law converse) is not a nece...

    Similar

    It is not possible for there to be two individuals that are entirely a...93%If two persons are neither identical nor distinct, they cannot both st...89%Universals are really (realiter) identical with individuals84%Any two existing things must be either identical or distinct, so if tw...83%

    Source

    AI-extracted1/3 agreementValid
    SEP: schopenhauer
    View source passageHide passage
    Although the principle of sufficient reason might seem to be self-evident, it does yield surprising results. For example, we can appeal to this principle to argue that there can be no two individuals exactly alike, because there would otherwise be no sufficient reason why one of the individuals was in one place, while the other individual was in another. The principle also supports the argument that the physical world was not created at any point in time, since there is no sufficient reason why
    Extraction notes

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

    Details

    Type
    claim
    Perspectives
    3 (1 for, 2 against)
    Edits
    1 edit