Cambridge change
Encyclopedia
A Cambridge change is a philosophical concept of change according to which an entity
x has changed just in case there is some predicate F that is true (not true) of x at a time t1 but not true (true) of x at some later time t2.
in the late 1960s, in reference to Russell
and McTaggart
, philosophers active at Cambridge University.
Intuitively, however, it is only person B, and not person A, who has changed: B has grown by 10cm, but A has stayed the same. This problem with Cambridge changes is usually thought to call for a distinction between intrinsic
and extrinsic
, or natural and non-natural, properties. Given such a distinction, it is possible to define "real" change by requiring that the predicate involved express an intrinsic property, like being 175cm tall, rather than an extrinsic property, like being taller than B.
Entity
An entity is something that has a distinct, separate existence, although it need not be a material existence. In particular, abstractions and legal fictions are usually regarded as entities. In general, there is also no presumption that an entity is animate.An entity could be viewed as a set...
x has changed just in case there is some predicate F that is true (not true) of x at a time t1 but not true (true) of x at some later time t2.
History
The term Cambridge change was coined by Peter GeachPeter Geach
Peter Thomas Geach is a British philosopher. His areas of interest are the history of philosophy, philosophical logic, and the theory of identity.He was educated at Balliol College, Oxford...
in the late 1960s, in reference to Russell
Bertrand Russell
Bertrand Arthur William Russell, 3rd Earl Russell, OM, FRS was a British philosopher, logician, mathematician, historian, and social critic. At various points in his life he considered himself a liberal, a socialist, and a pacifist, but he also admitted that he had never been any of these things...
and McTaggart
J. M. E. McTaggart
John McTaggart was an idealist metaphysician. For most of his life McTaggart was a fellow and lecturer in philosophy at Trinity College, Cambridge. He was an exponent of the philosophy of Hegel and among the most notable of the British idealists.-Personal life:J. M. E. McTaggart was born in 1866...
, philosophers active at Cambridge University.
Example
Suppose that at t1, person A is 180cm tall and person B is 175cm tall, while at time t2 A is still 180cm tall but B has grown to be 185cm tall. Since the predicate `is taller than B' is true of A at t1 but not true of A at t2, A has changed according to the Cambridge change definition of "change"---he has gone from being taller than B to not being taller than B.Intuitively, however, it is only person B, and not person A, who has changed: B has grown by 10cm, but A has stayed the same. This problem with Cambridge changes is usually thought to call for a distinction between intrinsic
Intrinsic and extrinsic properties (philosophy)
An intrinsic property is a property that an object or a thing has of itself, independently of other things, including its context. An extrinsic property is a property that depends on a thing's relationship with other things...
and extrinsic
Intrinsic and extrinsic properties (philosophy)
An intrinsic property is a property that an object or a thing has of itself, independently of other things, including its context. An extrinsic property is a property that depends on a thing's relationship with other things...
, or natural and non-natural, properties. Given such a distinction, it is possible to define "real" change by requiring that the predicate involved express an intrinsic property, like being 175cm tall, rather than an extrinsic property, like being taller than B.