identity of indiscernibles

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Definition of identity of indiscernibles in English English dictionary

The principle that if two objects are indistinguishable from one another with respect to all of their properties then they are identical

Principle enunciated by G.W. Leibniz that denies the possibility of two objects being numerically distinct while sharing all their non-relational properties in common, where a relational property is one that involves bearing a relation to another object. More formally, the principle states that if x is not identical to y, then there is some non-relational property P such that P holds of x and does not hold of y, or that P holds of y and does not hold of x. Equivalently, if x and y share all their non-relational properties, then x is identical to y. Its converse, the principle of the indiscernibility of identicals (also known as Leibniz's Law), asserts that if x is identical to y, then every non-relational property of x is a property of y, and vice versa

Hyphenation

i·den·ti·ty of indiscernibles

Synonyms

leibniz's law