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Single Idea 11955

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

Full Idea

There are no 'structural properties', if by that we mean a property that has properties as parts.

Gist of Idea

There are no 'structural properties', as properties with parts

Source

George Molnar (Powers [1998], 9.1.2)

Book Ref

Molnar,George: 'Powers: a study in metaphysics', ed/tr. Mumford,Stephen [OUP 2003], p.147

A Reaction

There do seem to be properties that result from arranging more basic properties in one way rather than another (e.g. arranging the metal in a knife to be 'sharp'). But I think Molnar is right that they are not part of basic ontology.

The 15 ideas with the same theme [general ideas about how objects must be structured]:

15465 Structures don't explain dispositions, because they consist of dispositions [Martin,CB]
15476 Structural properties involve dispositionality, so cannot be used to explain it [Martin,CB]
12685 Categorical properties depend only on the structures they represent [Ellis]
15800 All events and objects are dispositional, and hence all structural properties are dispositional [Fetzer]
15452 We could not uphold a truthmaker for 'Fa' without structures [Lewis]
15448 The 'magical' view of structural universals says they are atoms, even though they have parts [Lewis]
15449 If 'methane' is an atomic structural universal, it has nothing to connect it to its carbon universals [Lewis]
15439 The 'pictorial' view of structural universals says they are wholes made of universals as parts [Lewis]
15441 The structural universal 'methane' needs the universal 'hydrogen' four times over [Lewis]
15445 Butane and Isobutane have the same atoms, but different structures [Lewis]
15434 Structural universals have a necessary connection to the universals forming its parts [Lewis]
15437 We can't get rid of structural universals if there are no simple universals [Lewis]
11917 Structural properties are derivate properties [Molnar]
11955 There are no 'structural properties', as properties with parts [Molnar]
14535 Pandispositionalists say structures are clusters of causal powers [Mumford/Anjum]