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Single Idea 15101
[filed under theme 10. Modality / D. Knowledge of Modality / 1. A Priori Necessary
]
Full Idea
Once the obstacle of the deeply rooted conviction that necessary truths should be knowable a priori is removed, ...causal necessity is (pretheoretically) the very paradigm of necessity, in ordinary usage and in dictionaries.
Gist of Idea
Once you give up necessity as a priori, causal necessity becomes the main type of necessity
Source
Sydney Shoemaker (Causal and Metaphysical Necessity [1998], VII)
Book Ref
Shoemaker,Sydney: 'Identity, Cause and Mind' [OUP 2003], p.425
A Reaction
The a priori route seems to lead to logical necessity, just by doing a priori logic, and also to metaphysical necessity, by some sort of intuitive vision. This is a powerful idea of Shoemaker's (implied, of course, in Kripke).
The
56 ideas
from Sydney Shoemaker
15091
|
Restrict 'logical truth' to formal logic, rather than including analytic and metaphysical truths
[Shoemaker]
|
15093
|
We might say laws are necessary by combining causal properties with Armstrong-Dretske-Tooley laws
[Shoemaker]
|
15095
|
A property's causal features are essential, and only they fix its identity
[Shoemaker]
|
15097
|
I claim that a property has its causal features in all possible worlds
[Shoemaker]
|
15094
|
I now deny that properties are cluster of powers, and take causal properties as basic
[Shoemaker]
|
15096
|
'Grue' only has causal features because of its relation to green
[Shoemaker]
|
15098
|
Empirical evidence shows that imagining a phenomenon can show it is possible
[Shoemaker]
|
15100
|
Imagination reveals conceptual possibility, where descriptions avoid contradiction or incoherence
[Shoemaker]
|
15099
|
If something is possible, but not nomologically possible, we need metaphysical possibility
[Shoemaker]
|
15101
|
Once you give up necessity as a priori, causal necessity becomes the main type of necessity
[Shoemaker]
|
12678
|
Shoemaker says all genuine properties are dispositional
[Shoemaker, by Ellis]
|
9485
|
Universals concern how things are, and how they could be
[Shoemaker, by Bird]
|
8542
|
If causality is between events, there must be reference to the properties involved
[Shoemaker]
|
8545
|
A causal theory of properties focuses on change, not (say) on abstract properties of numbers
[Shoemaker]
|
15756
|
Some truths are not because of a thing's properties, but because of the properties of related things
[Shoemaker]
|
8543
|
Genuine properties are closely related to genuine changes
[Shoemaker]
|
8548
|
Dispositional predicates ascribe powers, and the rest ascribe properties
[Shoemaker]
|
15758
|
Things have powers in virtue of (which are entailed by) their properties
[Shoemaker]
|
8547
|
One power can come from different properties; a thing's powers come from its properties
[Shoemaker]
|
15757
|
'Square', 'round' and 'made of copper' show that not all properties are dispositional
[Shoemaker]
|
15759
|
The identity of a property concerns its causal powers
[Shoemaker]
|
15760
|
Properties are clusters of conditional powers
[Shoemaker]
|
8549
|
Properties are functions producing powers, and powers are functions producing effects
[Shoemaker]
|
8550
|
Triangular and trilateral are coextensive, but different concepts; but powers and properties are the same
[Shoemaker]
|
15761
|
We should abandon the idea that properties are the meanings of predicate expressions
[Shoemaker]
|
8553
|
It looks as if the immutability of the powers of a property imply essentiality
[Shoemaker]
|
8555
|
There is no subset of properties which guarantee a thing's identity
[Shoemaker]
|
8551
|
Properties must be essentially causal if we can know and speak about them
[Shoemaker]
|
8554
|
Possible difference across worlds depends on difference across time in the actual world
[Shoemaker]
|
15762
|
Could properties change without the powers changing, or powers change without the properties changing?
[Shoemaker]
|
8552
|
If properties are separated from causal powers, this invites total elimination
[Shoemaker]
|
8557
|
To ascertain genuine properties, examine the object directly
[Shoemaker]
|
8556
|
Grueness is not, unlike green and blue, associated with causal potential
[Shoemaker]
|
4040
|
The notions of property and of causal power are parts of a single system of related concepts
[Shoemaker]
|
8558
|
One system has properties, powers, events, similarity and substance
[Shoemaker]
|
8559
|
Analysis aims at internal relationships, not reduction
[Shoemaker]
|
8560
|
If causal laws describe causal potentialities, the same laws govern properties in all possible worlds
[Shoemaker]
|
15763
|
If properties are causal, then causal necessity is a species of logical necessity
[Shoemaker]
|
8561
|
If a world has different causal laws, it must have different properties
[Shoemaker]
|
15764
|
'Conceivable' is either not-provably-false, or compatible with what we know?
[Shoemaker]
|
8562
|
It is possible to conceive what is not possible
[Shoemaker]
|
15765
|
Actually, properties are individuated by causes as well as effects
[Shoemaker]
|
15092
|
Formerly I said properties are individuated by essential causal powers and causing instantiation
[Shoemaker, by Shoemaker]
|
5687
|
For true introspection, must we be aware that we are aware of our mental events?
[Shoemaker]
|
5688
|
Empirical foundationalism says basic knowledge is self-intimating, and incorrigible or infallible
[Shoemaker]
|
5691
|
The adverbial account of sensation says not 'see a red image' but be 'appeared to redly'
[Shoemaker]
|
1389
|
If memory is the sole criterion of identity, we ought to use it for other people too
[Shoemaker]
|
1390
|
Bodily identity is one criterion and memory another, for personal identity
[Shoemaker, by PG]
|
14534
|
Shoemaker moved from properties as powers to properties bestowing powers
[Shoemaker, by Mumford/Anjum]
|
4226
|
If three regions 'freeze' every three, four and five years, after sixty years everything stops for a year
[Shoemaker, by Lowe]
|
8593
|
Maybe billions of changeless years have elapsed since my last meal
[Shoemaker]
|
8594
|
People have had good reasons for thinking that the circle has been squared
[Shoemaker]
|
8595
|
If three regions freeze every 3rd, 4th and 5th year, they all freeze together every 60 years
[Shoemaker]
|
8596
|
Inability to measure equality doesn't make all lengths unequal
[Shoemaker]
|
8597
|
We couldn't verify the earth's rotation if everyone simultaneously fell asleep
[Shoemaker]
|
8598
|
If things turn red for an hour and then explode, we wouldn't say the redness was the cause
[Shoemaker]
|