Single Idea 15976

[catalogued under 8. Modes of Existence / C. Powers and Dispositions / 4. Powers as Essence]

Full Idea

What is that texture of parts, that real essence, that makes lead, and antinomy fusible; wood and stone not?

Gist of Idea

What is the texture - the real essence - which makes substances behave in distinct ways?

Source

John Locke (Essay Conc Human Understanding (2nd Ed) [1694], 3.06.09)

Book Reference

Locke,John: 'Essay Concerning Human Understanding', ed/tr. Nidditch,P.H. [OUP 1979], p.444


A Reaction

This quotation gives better support to Alexander's claim in Idea 15973. Locke actually says plainly that the texture (i.e. powerful combination of fine-grained corpuscles) is the essence of these substances (with, presumably, intrinsic powers).

Related Ideas

Idea 15971 Secondary qualities are powers of complex primary qualities to produce sensations in us [Locke]

Idea 15973 In my view Locke's 'textures' are groups of corpuscles which are powers (rather than 'having' powers) [Locke, by Alexander,P]

Idea 15974 The essence of whiteness in a man is nothing but the power to produce the idea of whiteness [Locke]