Social Groups as Objects: How Groups Can be Considered Objects within the Eliminativist Account

Abstract

The power of groups over their members has been well documented in psychological, sociological, and political literature. There is, however, not as much written about the metaphysical status of these groups or the implications of this status. Trenton Merricks establishes a criterion for determining whether something counts as an object, and he concludes that only persons meet this criterion. While at first this designation seems trivial, it does have implications for how we treat and view those things we view as objects and for how we treat and view non-objects. In this article, I argue that some groups meet the criterion proposed by Merricks for distinguishing objects from non-objects by establishing characteristics these groups must meet to be considered objects. If I am right, these groups then deserve the status and rights that come with being a person.