Single Idea 8557

[catalogued under 8. Modes of Existence / B. Properties / 5. Natural Properties]

Full Idea

There is a plausible way of distinguishing genuine and mere-Cambridge properties. To decide whether an emerald is green the thing to do is to examine it, but a mere-Cambridge property is settled by observations at a remote time and place.

Clarification

Mere-Cambridge properties are usually whimsical and relational

Gist of Idea

To ascertain genuine properties, examine the object directly

Source

Sydney Shoemaker (Causality and Properties [1980], §06)

Book Reference

Shoemaker,Sydney: 'Identity, Cause and Mind' [OUP 2003], p.220


A Reaction

Scientific essentialism is beautifully simple! Schoemaker is good at connecting the epistemology to the ontology. If you examined a mirror, you might think it contained reflections.