History of Philosophy Without Any Gaps HoP 216 - One of a Kind - Gilbert of Poitiers on Individuation
Mar 22, 2015
Medieval philosopher Gilbert of Poitiers proposes a unique theory of individuation. The podcast explores the challenge of distinguishing individuals, different theories of individuation, and Gilbert's views on substances and dividuals, future properties, and the influence of his account in theological and political discussions.
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Host Twin Story Introduces Individuation Problem
- Peter Adamson reveals he is an identical twin and shares childhood frustrations about being treated as interchangeable.
- He uses personal twin stories and the Marx Brothers mirror scene to introduce the philosophical problem of individuation.
Individuation Is Division Within A Species
- Individuation asks why members of the same species are distinct rather than how many species exist.
- Medieval philosophers framed the problem as explaining how a genus like humanity is divided into distinct individuals like Groucho and Harpo.
Accidentalist Idea That Many Accidents Make Uniqueness
- Porphyry and Boethius suggest an accidentalist account: individuals are unique because of their accidental properties combined.
- Porphyry claims no two things share exactly the same collection of characteristics, making each an individual.