Single Idea 15759

[catalogued under 8. Modes of Existence / C. Powers and Dispositions / 5. Powers and Properties]

Full Idea

What makes a property the property it is, what determines its identity, is its potential for contributing to the causal powers of the things that have it.

Gist of Idea

The identity of a property concerns its causal powers

Source

Sydney Shoemaker (Causality and Properties [1980], §04)

Book Reference

Shoemaker,Sydney: 'Identity, Cause and Mind' [OUP 2003], p.212


A Reaction

Does this mean that the 'potential' to act is the essence of the property, or is a property of the property, or is wholly identical with the property? Or is this just epistemological - whatever individuates the property for observers?