Single Idea 15465

[catalogued under 9. Objects / C. Structure of Objects / 1. Structure of an Object]

Full Idea

It is self-defeating to try to explain dispositionality in terms of structural states because structural states are themselves dispositional.

Gist of Idea

Structures don't explain dispositions, because they consist of dispositions

Source

C.B. Martin (The Mind in Nature [2008], 01.2)

Book Reference

Martin,C.B.: 'The Mind in Nature' [OUP 2008], p.2


A Reaction

No doubt structures have dispositions, but are they entirely dispositional? Might there be 'emergent' dispositions which can only be explained by the structure itself, rather than by the dispositions that make up the structure?