Criteria of Identity

Abstract In this chapter, having already provided some motivation for phasalism, the author begins the project of fleshing out a detailed phasalist metaphysics. One of the most important elements of a phasalist metaphysics is a phasalist criterion of identity for material objects. Phasalists take a non-standard position on which changes material objects can and do survive, so they owe it to their conversation partners to paint a broader metaphysical picture in which this non-standard view can be comfortably situated. Therefore, this chapter is devoted to formulating and defending a phasalist criterion of identity that (roughly) concerns itself with only the spatiotemporal features of objects, and not their sortal properties, nor any properties unique to material objects of specific sorts. The author argues that his spatiotemporal criterion enjoys a number of important virtues, but he does not claim—and indeed he does not believe—that it is the only criterion a phasalist might adopt.