Combining Philosophers

Ideas for Roger Penrose, Chris Swoyer and Hugh MacColl

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5 ideas

8. Modes of Existence / B. Properties / 1. Nature of Properties
If a property such as self-identity can only be in one thing, it can't be a universal [Swoyer]
     Full Idea: Some properties may not be universals, if they can only be exemplified by one thing, such as 'being identical with Socrates'.
     From: Chris Swoyer (Properties [2000])
     A reaction: I think it is absurd to think that self-identity is an intrinsic 'property', possessed by everything. That a=a is a convenience for logicians, meaning nothing in the world. And it is relational. The sharing of properties is indeed what needs explanation.
Can properties have parts? [Swoyer]
     Full Idea: Can properties have parts?
     From: Chris Swoyer (Properties [2000], 6.4)
     A reaction: If powers are more fundamental than properties, with the latter often being complexes of the underlying powers, then yes they do. But powers don't. Presumably whatever is fundamental shouldn't have parts. Why?
Can properties exemplify other properties? [Swoyer]
     Full Idea: Can properties themselves exemplify properties?
     From: Chris Swoyer (Abstract Entities [2008], 3)
     A reaction: Since I espouse a rather strict causal view of true properties, and lump the rest into the category of 'predicates', I am inclined to answer 'no' to this. Most people would disagree. 'Bright red' seems to be an example. But it isn't.
8. Modes of Existence / B. Properties / 5. Natural Properties
There are only first-order properties ('red'), and none of higher-order ('coloured') [Swoyer]
     Full Idea: 'Elementarism' is the view that there are first-order properties, but that there are no properties of any higher-order. There are first-order properties like various shades of red, but there is no higher-order property, like 'being a colour'.
     From: Chris Swoyer (Properties [2000], 7.1)
     A reaction: [He cites Bergmann 1968] Interesting. Presumably the programme is naturalistic (and hence congenial to me), and generalisations about properties are conceptual, while the properties themselves are natural.
8. Modes of Existence / B. Properties / 11. Properties as Sets
The best-known candidate for an identity condition for properties is necessary coextensiveness [Swoyer]
     Full Idea: The best-known candidate for an identity condition for properties is necessary coextensiveness.
     From: Chris Swoyer (Properties [2000], 6)
     A reaction: The necessity (in all possible worlds) covers renates and cordates. It is hard to see how one could assert the necessity without some deeper explanation. What makes us deny that actually coextensive renates and cordates have different properties?