Single Idea 8553

[catalogued under 26. Natural Theory / D. Laws of Nature / 8. Scientific Essentialism / d. Knowing essences]

Full Idea

There is a prima facie case for saying that the immutability of the causal potentialities of a property implies their essentiality. ...If they cannot vary across time, they also cannot vary across possible worlds.

Gist of Idea

It looks as if the immutability of the powers of a property imply essentiality

Source

Sydney Shoemaker (Causality and Properties [1980], §05)

Book Reference

Shoemaker,Sydney: 'Identity, Cause and Mind' [OUP 2003], p.217


A Reaction

This is only the beginning of scientific essentialism, but one of the targets is to save the phenomena. It is also involves unimaginability (of different powers from a given property) implying necessity.