Autor: Lonergan, Bernard J.F.

Buch: The Trinune God: Systematics

Titel: The Triune God: Systematics

Stichwort: Relationen; Relation der Identität: transitiv? (Beispiel: Bruder); Identität - reale Unterscheidung

Kurzinhalt: A BRIEF QUESTION -- Is the relation of identity tranitiv? .. we conclude that the relation of identity is transitive with absolutes, but is not transitive when real and mutually opposite relations are really identical with one absolute.

Textausschnitt: A BRIEF QUESTION -- Is the relation of identity transitive?

737a The symbol xRy means x is related by the relation R to y. (Fs)

The relation R is said to be transitive if, given aRb and bRc, it necessarily follows that aRc. (Fs)

Hence we conclude: the relation of equality or fraternity is transitive; the relation of inequality or sonship is not transitive. (Fs)

737b Our question here is whether the relation of identity is transitive. (Fs)

In reply, we say that identity obtains inasmuch as real distinction is excluded. But there can be a real distinction in two ways: first, by the affirmation and non-affirmation of the same real attribute, for the same P cannot be both Q and not-Q,; second, by real and mutually opposed relations, as we demonstrated above (see [chap. 3, Assertion 6], p. 249). There is identity insofar as each of these ways of real distinction is excluded. (Fs)

737c Now, identity excludes the first way of there being a real distinction; for if a and b are really identical, whatever is affirmed as real of a is also affirmed as real of b; and vice versa. (Fs)

But identity does not rule out the second way of there being a real distinction; for the same absolute b can have two real and mutually opposed relations, a and c. (Fs) (notabene)

737d From this, therefore, we conclude that the relation of identity is transitive with absolutes, but is not transitive when real and mutually opposite relations are really identical with one absolute. (Fs) (notabene)