Mereological Nihilism
What is Mereological Nihilism?
Mereological nihilism can be described as a philosophical theory which claims that there are no objects with proper parts. The only items that exist are basic building blocks that do not have parts. To be more precise, it implies that nothing is a part of anything else.
Explanation
The meaning of and difference between a part and a whole is something that is known to everyone. Each and every object that we come across in our surroundings and experience every day can be considered a whole which has parts. The only objects which do not have parts are those that are the smallest possible existing items and thus we do not experience them directly. The basis of the argument made by philosophers in favor of mereological nihilism lies in the claim that the human senses provide us only a blurred image of reality and therefore, they are not trustworthy. It also claims that minutest building blocks that cannot be seen are different and individual items that do not ever combine into being non-individual and thus they do not ever compose anything. Therefore, if the building blocks of reality do not form any whole items, it means that no whole items exist in reality despite our assumption that they do.
Partial vs. Pure Nihilism
Another concept that is considered by several philosophers is partial nihilism. Partial nihilism is a theory that only certain types of objects have parts. Organicism can be regarded as a type of partial nihilism. Organicism implies the view that living beings exist and are the only composite objects; however, since there are no other objects that have parts, all objects that are considered to be composite do not actually exist. Organicist Peter van Inwagen uses an example of tables and chairs in this context. He claims that it is acceptable to assert sentences such as ‘there are tables’ despite the fact that tables or chairs are objects that do not exist. The reason for this is that this kind of sentence can be
Mereological nihilism can be described as a philosophical theory which claims that there are no objects with proper parts. The only items that exist are basic building blocks that do not have parts. To be more precise, it implies that nothing is a part of anything else.
Explanation
The meaning of and difference between a part and a whole is something that is known to everyone. Each and every object that we come across in our surroundings and experience every day can be considered a whole which has parts. The only objects which do not have parts are those that are the smallest possible existing items and thus we do not experience them directly. The basis of the argument made by philosophers in favor of mereological nihilism lies in the claim that the human senses provide us only a blurred image of reality and therefore, they are not trustworthy. It also claims that minutest building blocks that cannot be seen are different and individual items that do not ever combine into being non-individual and thus they do not ever compose anything. Therefore, if the building blocks of reality do not form any whole items, it means that no whole items exist in reality despite our assumption that they do.
Partial vs. Pure Nihilism
Another concept that is considered by several philosophers is partial nihilism. Partial nihilism is a theory that only certain types of objects have parts. Organicism can be regarded as a type of partial nihilism. Organicism implies the view that living beings exist and are the only composite objects; however, since there are no other objects that have parts, all objects that are considered to be composite do not actually exist. Organicist Peter van Inwagen uses an example of tables and chairs in this context. He claims that it is acceptable to assert sentences such as ‘there are tables’ despite the fact that tables or chairs are objects that do not exist. The reason for this is that this kind of sentence can be