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Single Idea 14299

[filed under theme 8. Modes of Existence / C. Powers and Dispositions / 6. Dispositions / e. Dispositions as potential ]

Full Idea

It seems plausible that a disposition could be possessed though no manifestation events occur.

Gist of Idea

There could be dispositions that are never manifested

Source

Stephen Mumford (Dispositions [1998], 01.6)

Book Ref

Mumford,Stephen: 'Dispositions' [OUP 1998], p.21

A Reaction

It is more than 'plausible' - it is screamingly obvious to everybody, apart from a few philosophers. "Some mute inglorious Milton here may rest" (Gray's Elegy).

The 5 ideas with the same theme [dispositions as potential states for possible behaviour]:

14297 A dispositional property is not a state, but a liability to be in some state, given a condition [Ryle]
15797 All structures are dispositional, objects are dispositions sets, and events manifest dispositions [Fetzer]
14291 Dispositions are not just possibilities - they are features of actual things [Mumford]
14299 There could be dispositions that are never manifested [Mumford]
14920 If science captures the modal structure of things, that explains why its predictions work [Ladyman/Ross]