Individuals

Abstract

Various structuralists about individuals, such as ontic structural realists and ante rem mathematical structuralists, say that individuals are "just positions in structures". This chapter is a long study of what that might mean. Individuals are central to the foundations of mathematics and physics, so it is hard to see how the fundamental facts could be stated without reference to individuals. But if these fundamental facts do mention individuals, then it is hard to see how individuals are "just positions in structures". The main approaches considered are: antihaecceitism, eliminative structural realism, featureless particulars (moderate structural realism), weak discernibility, indeterminate identity, monism, generalism. Especially close attention is paid to Shamik Dasgupta's development of the final position.