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Single Idea 11946
[filed under theme 8. Modes of Existence / C. Powers and Dispositions / 7. Against Powers
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Full Idea
Propensities should not be regarded as inherent in an object, such as a die or a penny, but should be regarded as inherent in a situation (of which, of course, the object was part).
Gist of Idea
Propensities are part of a situation, not part of the objects
Source
Karl Popper (A World of Propensities [1993], p.14), quoted by George Molnar - Powers 6.2
Book Ref
Molnar,George: 'Powers: a study in metaphysics', ed/tr. Mumford,Stephen [OUP 2003], p.106
A Reaction
Molnar argues against this claim, and I agree with him. We can see why Popper might prefer this relational view, given that powers often only become apparent in unusual relational situations.
The
16 ideas
from Karl Popper
12176
|
Science does not aim at ultimate explanations
[Popper]
|
12175
|
Galilean science aimed at true essences, as the ultimate explanations
[Popper]
|
12179
|
Essentialist views of science prevent further questions from being raised
[Popper]
|
12177
|
Human artefacts may have essences, in their purposes
[Popper]
|
22188
|
Give Nobel Prizes for really good refutations?
[Gorham on Popper]
|
7780
|
Falsification is the criterion of demarcation between science and non-science
[Popper, by Magee]
|
16830
|
We don't only reject hypotheses because we have falsified them
[Lipton on Popper]
|
6794
|
If falsification requires logical inconsistency, then probabilistic statements can't be falsified
[Bird on Popper]
|
6795
|
When Popper gets in difficulties, he quietly uses induction to help out
[Bird on Popper]
|
3856
|
Good theories have empirical content, explain a lot, and are not falsified
[Popper, by Newton-Smith]
|
3860
|
Science cannot be shown to be rational if induction is rejected
[Newton-Smith on Popper]
|
7779
|
There is no such thing as induction
[Popper, by Magee]
|
22358
|
Scientific objectivity lies in inter-subjective testing
[Popper]
|
5451
|
Popper felt that ancient essentialism was a bar to progress
[Popper, by Mautner]
|
18284
|
Particulars can be verified or falsified, but general statements can only be falsified (conclusively)
[Popper]
|
11946
|
Propensities are part of a situation, not part of the objects
[Popper]
|