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Single Idea 15723

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

Full Idea

The further a disposition is from those that can confidently be pinned on molecular structure or something comparably firm, the more our talk of it tends to depend on a vague factor of 'caeteris paribus'

Clarification

'Caeteris paribus' is the qualification 'all things being equal'

Gist of Idea

Either dispositions rest on structures, or we keep saying 'all things being equal'

Source

Willard Quine (Word and Object [1960], §46)

Book Ref

Quine,Willard: 'Word and Object' [MIT 1969], p.225

A Reaction

I approve of this. It is precisely the point of scientific essentialism, I take it. We are faced with innumerable uncertain dispositions, but once the underlying mechanisms are known, their role in nature becomes fairly precise.

The 25 ideas with the same theme [idea of a disposition towards certain behaviour]:

16735 In the 17th century, 'disposition' usually just means the spatial arrangement of parts [Boyle, by Pasnau]
14292 Dispositions seem more ethereal than behaviour; a non-occult account of them would be nice [Goodman]
16948 Once we know the mechanism of a disposition, we can eliminate 'similarity' [Quine]
15723 Either dispositions rest on structures, or we keep saying 'all things being equal' [Quine]
15469 Dispositions in action can be destroyed, be recovered, or remain unchanged [Martin,CB]
14330 To be realists about dispositions, we can only discuss them through their categorical basis [Armstrong]
5458 Nearly all fundamental properties of physics are dispositional [Ellis]
13585 The most fundamental properties of nature (mass, charge, spin ...) all seem to be dispositions [Ellis]
16452 Dispositions have modal properties, of which properties things would have counterfactually [Stalnaker]
14308 We can bring dispositions into existence, as in creating an identifier [Dennett, by Mumford]
11943 Dispositions can be causes, so they must be part of the actual world [Molnar]
7025 Are a property's dispositions built in, or contingently added? [Heil]
14293 Dispositions are ascribed to at least objects, substances and persons [Mumford]
14298 Dispositions can be contrasted either with occurrences, or with categorical properties [Mumford]
14326 Unlike categorical bases, dispositions necessarily occupy a particular causal role [Mumford]
14583 Dispositionality is a natural selection function, picking outcomes from the range of possibilities [Mumford/Anjum]
16788 Instead of adding Aristotelian forms to physical stuff, one could add dispositions [Pasnau]
19021 I have an 'iterated ability' to learn the violin - that is, the ability to acquire that ability [Vetter]
23698 Dispositions have directed behaviour which occurs if triggered [Friend/Kimpton-Nye]
23699 'Masked' dispositions fail to react because something intervenes [Friend/Kimpton-Nye]
23700 A disposition is 'altered' when the stimulus reverses the disposition [Friend/Kimpton-Nye]
23701 A disposition is 'mimicked' if a different cause produces that effect from that stimulus [Friend/Kimpton-Nye]
23702 A 'trick' can look like a stimulus for a disposition which will happen without it [Friend/Kimpton-Nye]
23703 Some dispositions manifest themselves without a stimulus [Friend/Kimpton-Nye]
23704 We could analyse dispositions as 'possibilities', with no mention of a stimulus [Friend/Kimpton-Nye]