Occasions Of Identity: A Study in the Metaphysics of Persistence, Change, and Sameness - Softcover

Gallois, André

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0199261830 ISBN 13: 9780199261833

Publisher: Oxford University Press, U.S.A., 1992

Synopsis

Occasions of Identity is an exploration of timeless philosophical issues about persistence, change, time, and sameness. André Gallois offers a critical survey of various rival views about the nature of identity and change, and puts forward his own original theory. He supports the idea of occasional identities, arguing that it is coherent and helpful to suppose that things can be identical at one time but distinct at another. Gallois defends this view, demonstrating how it can solve puzzles about persistence dating back to the Ancient Greeks, and investigates the metaphysical consequences of rejecting the necessity and eternity of identities.

About this title

Review

Review from previous edition a detailed, well-written presentation and defense of one attempt to solve many of the recently much discussed puzzles in the metaphysics of material objects. It is engaging not only for Gallois's ingenious attempt to defend his view that objects can be "occasionally identical" ... but for his discussion throughout of the puzzles and of alternative solutions ... Even where one disagrees, there is excellent food for thought and discussion here. (The Philosophical Review)

There is no question that Gallois has done a great job in sorting out the issue and throwing light on 'the dark doctrine' of occasional and contingent identity.... Many sopisticated and original arguments. (Australasian Journal of Philosophy)

The book is well-organised and clearly written ... Gallois is very clever and ingenious in his defence of the Occasional Identity Thesis and is broadly fair to his opponents, about whose positions he is well-informed. His arguments are rigorous and well-constructed and his mastery of some tricky points of logic is impressive. (Mind)

Synopsis

Occasions of Identity is an exploration of timeless philosophical issues about persistence, change, time, and sameness. Andre Gallois offers a critical survey of various rival views about the nature of identity and change, and puts forward his own original theory in the face of the prevailing orthodoxy. He argues that it is coherent and helpful to suppose that things can be identical at one time, but distinct at another - in other words, that there are genuine occasional identities. Gallois defends this view against objections, demonstrates how it can solve puzzles about persistence dating back to the Ancient Greeks, and investigates the metaphysical consequences of rejecting the necessity and eternity of identities.

Edition details

• Publisher: Oxford University Press, U.S.A.
• Publication date: 1992
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0199261830
• ISBN 13: 9780199261833
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 312