more from this thinker     |     more from this text


Single Idea 23705

[filed under theme 10. Modality / B. Possibility / 4. Potentiality ]

Full Idea

Although not all potentialities are dispositions, Vetter claims that all dispositions are potentialities which are had to a sufficiently high degree.

Gist of Idea

A potentiality may not be a disposition, but dispositions are strong potentialities

Source

report of Barbara Vetter (Potentiality [2015]) by Friend/Kimpton-Nye - Dispositions and Powers 2.4.2

Book Ref

Friend/Kimpton-Nye: 'Dispositions and Powers' [CUP 2023], p.28


A Reaction

This sounds plausible. A potentiality could be faint or negligible, but once it is a serious possibility it becomes a 'disposition'. ...I suppose. But if the meteor is probably going to hit my house, it doesn't mean it has a disposition to do so.


The 13 ideas with the same theme [possibilities of some specific thing]:

A 'potentiality' is a principle of change or process in a thing [Aristotle]
Things are destroyed not by their powers, but by their lack of them [Aristotle]
Potentialities are always for action, but are conditional on circumstances [Aristotle]
We recognise potentiality from actuality [Aristotle]
Matter is potentiality [Aristotle, by Politis]
Bodies have act and potency, the latter explaining new kinds of existence [Oderberg]
A potentiality may not be a disposition, but dispositions are strong potentialities [Vetter, by Friend/Kimpton-Nye]
Potentiality does the explaining in metaphysics; we don't explain it away or reduce it [Vetter]
Potentiality is the common genus of dispositions, abilities, and similar properties [Vetter]
Water has a potentiality to acquire a potentiality to break (by freezing) [Vetter]
Potentialities may be too weak to count as 'dispositions' [Vetter]
Potentiality logic is modal system T. Stronger systems collapse iterations, and necessitate potentials [Vetter]
There are potentialities 'to ...', but possibilities are 'that ....'. [Vetter]