Closer

Document Type

Journal article

Source Publication

Synthese

Publication Date

9-1-2005

Volume

146

Issue

3

First Page

371

Last Page

393

Publisher

Springer Netherlands

Abstract

Criteria of identity should mirror the identity relation in being reflexive, symmetrical, and transitive. However, this logical requirement is only rarely met by the criteria that we are most inclined to propose as candidates. The present paper addresses the question how such obvious candidates are best approximated by means of relations that have all of the aforementioned features, i.e., which are equivalence relations. This question divides into two more basic questions. First, what is to be considered a 'best' approximation. And second, how can these best approximations be found? In answering these questions, we both rely on and constructively criticize ground-breaking work done by Timothy Williamson. Guiding ideas of our approach are that we allow approximations by means of overlapping equivalence-relations, and that closeness of approximation is measured in terms of the number of mistakes made by the approximation when compared to the obvious candidate criterion.

DOI

10.1007/s11229-004-6219-1

Print ISSN

00397857

E-ISSN

15730964

Publisher Statement

Copyright © Springer 2005

Access to external full text or publisher's version may require subscription.

Full-text Version

Publisher’s Version

Language

English

Recommended Citation

De Clercq, R., & Horsten, L. (2005). Closer. Synthese, 146(3), 371-393. doi: 10.1007/s11229-004-6219-1

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