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Single Idea 23775

[filed under theme 8. Modes of Existence / C. Powers and Dispositions / 1. Powers ]

Full Idea

Powers are 'multi-track', meaning that they are capable of producing a variety of different manifestations when me with diverse stimuli.

Gist of Idea

Powers are 'multi-track' if they can produce a variety of manifestations

Source

Neil E. Williams (The Powers Metaphysics [2019], 03.1)

Book Ref

Williams,Neil E.: 'The Powers Metaphysics' [OUP 2019], p.49

A Reaction

He later mentions magnetism. Not convinced of this. Powers probably never exist in isolation, so a different manifestation could be because a different power becomes involved. (Bird is a single-tracker).

The 23 ideas from Neil E. Williams

23768 A metaphysic is a set of wider explanations derived from a basic ontology [Williams,NE]
23770 Reductive analysis makes a concept clearer, by giving an alternative simpler set [Williams,NE]
23769 Promoting an ontology by its implied good metaphysic is an 'argument-by-display' [Williams,NE]
23771 Fundamental physics describes everything in terms of powers [Williams,NE]
23772 If objects are property bundles, the properties need combining powers [Williams,NE]
23773 Humeans say properties are passive, possibility is vast, laws are descriptions, causation is weak [Williams,NE]
23775 Powers are 'multi-track' if they can produce a variety of manifestations [Williams,NE]
23774 There are basic powers, which underlie dispositions, potentialities, capacities etc [Williams,NE]
23776 Rather than pure powers or pure categoricals, I favour basics which are both at once [Williams,NE]
23777 Powers are more complicated than properties which are always on display [Williams,NE]
23778 Powers contain lawlike features, pointing to possible future states [Williams,NE]
23779 We shouldn't posit the existence of anything we have a word for [Williams,NE]
23780 Every possible state of affairs is written into its originating powers [Williams,NE]
23783 Change exists, it is causal, and it needs an explanation [Williams,NE]
23782 Causation is the exercise of powers [Williams,NE]
23784 Processes don't begin or end; they just change direction unexpectedly [Williams,NE]
23786 The status quo is part of what exists, and so needs metaphysical explanation [Williams,NE]
23785 Causation needs to explain stasis, as well as change [Williams,NE]
23787 If causes and effects overlap, that makes changes impossible [Williams,NE]
23788 Four-Dimensional is Perdurantism (temporal parts), plus Eternalism [Williams,NE]
23789 Naming powers is unwise, because that it usually done by a single manifestation [Williams,NE]
23790 Processes are either strings of short unchanging states, or continuous and unreducible events [Williams,NE]
23791 Dispositions are just useful descriptions, which are explained by underlying powers [Williams,NE]