In recent years, a growing number of philosophers have appealed to various individuative entities (e.g. tropes or Leibnizian essences) to solve a specific philosophical problem. Moreover, the problem of individuation is an essential aspect of the problem of universals. For these reasons, it is important to be clear on issues and options in the problem of individuation. In this chapter, the problem of individuation will be clarified, two solutions will be analysed and bare particulars will be defended as the best answer.

The problem of individuation

The notion of a problem of individuation has come to be used for a wide variety of different, and not altogether related matters in philosophy ranging from linguistic, conceptual or epistemological issues of singling something out at or through time to more distinctively metaphysical concerns. To clarify the specific sense used here, recall Socrates and Plato, two red, round spots that share all their pure properties in common. The problem of individuation is the problem of offering an ontological assay of the situation so as to specify what it is that makes the two spots two particular, individual entities instead of one. So understood, this problem of individuation requires an answer to two different but intimately related questions:

1. • How are we to characterize individuality ontologically? To what ontological category or logical type does individuality belong?

2. • What sort of distinction is there between the individuality and nature of an individual like Socrates or Plato: a real distinction, a modal distinction, a distinction of reason, or some other distinction?