Chris, (01)
If you are willing to grant intensional definitions, then you
will have intensional criteria for determining identity. (02)
CP> It gets rather hard to define any large collection of items
> without intensional definitions - beliefs, desires, and intentions
> do not seem to be a special case. It would be interesting to see
> how anyone can define infinite sets (collections) without
> intensional definitions. (03)
I agree with you about infinite sets, but there are no clearly
observable criteria that can be used to identify intentions. (04)
For example, if I buy a car, the car does not change in any
observable way. However, I might change my behavior toward
the car, by getting in it and driving it. A similar kind of
behavioral change occurs if I merely rent or lease the car. (05)
It's very hard to tell the difference between a rented car
and a leased car, except by looking at some piece of paper,
which might not be present in or even near the car. (06)
JFS>> And without intentions, you can't define such things as
>> contracts, promises, or anything that depends on them, such as
>> money or businesses that hope to earn money. (07)
CP> I am afraid I do not quite follow you. (08)
I was giving examples of important concepts that are difficult
or impossible to define by extensions. A contract is the
distinguishing sign that determines whether a car is owned
or rented. Without some contract and effective means of
enforcing it, a banknote is a low-value piece of paper,
but with an established institution behind it, it can
be extremely valuable. (09)
The implicit contract that makes a stray dog into a pet dog
is even more elusive, especially since dogs can't read.
The pattern of behavior of a pet dog is easy to recognize
by anyone who knows dogs, but it is definitely not easy
to define by necessary and sufficient conditions. (010)
John (011)
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