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Single Idea 12229

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

Full Idea

There is a compatibilist view which says that it is for the abundant properties to play the role of 'bedeutungen' in semantic theory, and the sparse ones to address certain metaphysical concerns.

Clarification

'Bedeutung' is Frege's word for 'reference'

Gist of Idea

Maybe we have abundant properties for semantics, and sparse properties for ontology

Source

B Hale / C Wright (The Metaontology of Abstraction [2009], §9)

Book Ref

'Metametaphysics', ed/tr. Chalmers/Manley/Wasserman [OUP 2009], p.198

A Reaction

Only a philosopher could live with the word 'property' having utterly different extensions in different areas of discourse. They similarly bifurcate words like 'object' and 'exist'. Call properties 'quasi-properties' and I might join in.

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]