more from this thinker     |     more from this text

Single Idea 10720

[filed under theme 8. Modes of Existence / B. Properties / 3. Types of Properties ]

Full Idea

Both properties and particulars can be taken as either sui generis or as constructions, so we have four options: both sui generis, or both constructions, or one of each.

Clarification

'Sui generis' means 'of their own kind' i.e. basic

Gist of Idea

We have four options, depending whether particulars and properties are sui generis or constructions

Source

Alex Oliver (The Metaphysics of Properties [1996], §09)

Book Ref

-: 'Mind' [-], p.21

A Reaction

I think I favour both being sui generis. God didn't make the objects, then add their properties, or make the properties then create some instantiations. There can't be objects without properties, or objectless properties (except in thought).

The 17 ideas with the same theme [how properties might be divided into different groups]:

12264 An 'accident' is something which may possibly either belong or not belong to a thing [Aristotle]
17170 An 'attribute' is what the intellect takes as constituting an essence [Spinoza]
18378 Length is a 'determinable' property, and one mile is one its 'determinates' [Armstrong]
18379 The determinates of a determinable must be incompatible with each other [Armstrong]
5468 Properties are 'dispositional', or 'categorical' (the latter as 'block' or 'intrinsic' structures) [Ellis, by PG]
5790 A property is 'emergent' if it is caused by elements of a system, when the elements lack the property [Searle]
12229 Maybe we have abundant properties for semantics, and sparse properties for ontology [Hale/Wright]
10720 We have four options, depending whether particulars and properties are sui generis or constructions [Oliver]
12354 A 'categorial' property is had by virtue of being or having an item from a category [Wedin]
14333 Dispositions and categorical properties are two modes of presentation of the same thing [Mumford]
14978 A property is intrinsic if an object alone in the world can instantiate it [Sider]
14413 Some properties seem to be primitive, but others can be analysed [Merricks]
9502 There might be just one fundamental natural property [Bird]
18924 Being polka-dotted is a 'spatial distribution' property [Cameron]
16732 17th C qualities are either microphysical, or phenomenal, or powers [Pasnau]
19024 A determinate property must be a unique instance of the determinable class [Vetter]
22631 Properties are said to be categorical qualities or non-qualitative dispositions [Ingthorsson]