24.221: Metaphysics
Prof. Sally Haslanger
February 23, 2003
Second Homework Assignment
Provide short answers in your own words to the following questions based
on your reading of “Bare Particulars,” “Particulars Re-Clothed,” and
“Another Look at Bare Particulars” (in CRFM, pp. 125-263).
Assignments are due at the beginning of class on: 3/10/03
No late assignments will be accepted.
1. What is the “individual-character analysis” of a subject-predicate
statement? Provide an “individual-character analysis” of the statement
This is round. (Pointing, say,
to a basketball.)
According to those who endorse such analysis, would such an analysis also
apply to sentences like:
MIT is a prestigious school.
How?
2. Why might one think that the individual, on the individual-character
analysis, is unknowable?
3. Sketch Allaire’s argument for the claim that the individuals on
this analysis are knowable.
4. Summarize one of Chappell’s criticisms of Allaire’s discussion.
What is Allaire’s response?