[fusion event]Category Topic on Parts and Wholes --

We do two types of meetups -- Pre-planned topics, which feature a page or two seed discussion, with multiple discussion queue questions, and Category topics, which are a general category, for which members then post specific questions with whatever background is needed to provide context.

Part-whole distinctions produce all sorts of logic problems in philosophy, and thinking about them as spawned a new sub-field of logic -- Mereology. This will be a deep dive into parts, wholes, and any aspect of identity and natural kinds, and how identity fits into wholism.

We meet in person and online.
In person will be at 10113 Seattle Slew Lane. This meetup location does not have sufficient chairs for all of us, so it is advisory to bring a portable chair. The location also does not have food for sale. I will bring several large pizzas, and will request $2/slice. One pizza will be vegetarian. Tap water is available, please bring any other drinks desired.
Online will be: https://teams.live.com/meet/93583191724730?p=hY3jxVvnOciVl2aRn5

Discussion Questions:
1. What does it mean for an object to be part of another, separate object?
2. How do we deal with objects with vague boundaries? Some examples could be forests, clouds, rivers, oceans, and atmospheres.
3. Are there composite objects which exist independently of convention? It may be that the Sun is an object independent of a mind labeling it as one, but what about a seemingly arbitrary aggregate such as my left hand, a piece of gum, and the moon?
4. There are philosophers who believe that organisms are the only composite objects. Is this a reasonable view?
5. Suppose that there is no smallest unit of matter, how does this affect our views of objects with multiple parts? Would all material objects have infinitely many parts?
6. How do parthood relations work if there is a smallest unit of matter? A "mereological simple"?