About Haecceity

This book offers an in-depth and updated examination of the nature of haecceity-that primitive entity which explains why something is distinct from other things. The author defends a view on which haecceities have objects that instantiate them as constituents.

Matthew Davidson is Professor and Chair of Philosophy at California State University, San Bernardino. He works in metaphysics, philosophy of religion, and philosophy of language. His recent publications include The Metaphysics of Existence and Nonexistence and Knowledge and Reality in Nine Questions.

Introduction 1. Preliminaries: Haecceity Through History 2. The Nature of Haecceity 3. Haecceity: Arguments for and Against 4. Qualitative and Quidditative Properties 5. Haecceity and Existence 6. Haecceity and Acquaintance 7. Haecceity Applied: Thisness Presentism Epilogue