Mereology

Mereology is the philosophical study of parts and the relationships between them. It explores how smaller components combine to form larger objects and how these parts relate and interact within the whole. For example, a car consists of parts like the engine, wheels, and seats, which together create the complete vehicle. Mereology examines questions like whether a part can exist independently, how parts relate to the whole, and what it means for something to be part of something else. It's a foundational concept used in logic, mathematics, and philosophy to understand the structure and composition of complex objects.