Zhengguan Chen (Recognised Student: Universität Bern): 'Sortals, Intension, and Essence'
Abstract: This chapter defends an intensionalist account of sortals. Drawing on recent work on the phenomenon of copredication (Liebesman and Magidor (2025)), a theoretical component of which, I argue, suggests a unique model of predication distinct from the other two traditional models of predication. After offering an evaluation of the three models of predication, I propose that the two better models are arguably equivalent if sortals are construed as intensions rather than terms denoting kinds. Based on this examination, the implications for ontology and essence are discussed, and objections to this theory of sortals are answered.
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