Artifact Kinds, Identity Criteria, and Logical Adequacy

An important aspect of the alleged logical inadequacy of identity criteria for artifact kinds is the lack of transitivity. This formal problem can be eliminated through the use of a tool allowing for the gradual approximation of inadequate but normally adopted identity criteria. Although this does not solve the problem of so- called ontological respectability of artifacts, it shows that the mere lack of transitivity cannot be used to argue that artifacts are not ontologically respectable.