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Single Idea 23777

[filed under theme 8. Modes of Existence / C. Powers and Dispositions / 5. Powers and Properties ]

Full Idea

The mode in which a power presents itself is more complicated than those properties that have (strictly) nothing more to them than that which is always on display.

Gist of Idea

Powers are more complicated than properties which are always on display

Source

Neil E. Williams (The Powers Metaphysics [2019], 03.3)

Book Ref

Williams,Neil E.: 'The Powers Metaphysics' [OUP 2019], p.57


A Reaction

This is the key idea that nature is dynamic, and so must consist of potentials as well as actuals. Interesting distinction. A basic division between those properties 'always on display', and those that are not?


The 29 ideas with the same theme [relation between powers and our view of properties]:

Potentiality in geometry is metaphorical [Aristotle]
The active powers which are not essential to the substance are the 'real qualities' [Leibniz]
A thing has no properties if it has no effect on other 'things' [Nietzsche]
Properties endow a ball with qualities, and with powers or dispositions [Martin,CB]
Qualities and dispositions are aspects of properties - what it exhibits, and what it does [Martin,CB]
Properties are not powers - they just have powers [Armstrong]
Categoricals exist to influence powers. Such as structures, orientations and magnitudes [Ellis, by Williams,NE]
Properties have powers; they aren't just ways for logicians to classify objects [Ellis]
Shoemaker says all genuine properties are dispositional [Shoemaker, by Ellis]
A causal theory of properties focuses on change, not (say) on abstract properties of numbers [Shoemaker]
'Square', 'round' and 'made of copper' show that not all properties are dispositional [Shoemaker]
The identity of a property concerns its causal powers [Shoemaker]
Properties are clusters of conditional powers [Shoemaker]
Could properties change without the powers changing, or powers change without the properties changing? [Shoemaker]
If properties are separated from causal powers, this invites total elimination [Shoemaker]
The notions of property and of causal power are parts of a single system of related concepts [Shoemaker]
Actually, properties are individuated by causes as well as effects [Shoemaker]
Shoemaker moved from properties as powers to properties bestowing powers [Shoemaker, by Mumford/Anjum]
Should properties be individuated by their causal powers? [Kim]
Properties are causes [Crane]
Are all properties powers, or are there also qualities, or do qualities have the powers? [Heil]
Properties are both qualitative and dispositional - they are powerful qualities [Heil]
All properties must be causal powers (since they wouldn't exist otherwise) [Mumford]
Intrinsic properties are just causal powers, and identifying a property as causal is then analytic [Mumford]
Is the causal profile of a property its essence? [Hawthorne]
Could two different properties have the same causal profile? [Hawthorne]
If properties are more than their powers, we could have two properties with the same power [Hawthorne]
Rather than pure powers or pure categoricals, I favour basics which are both at once [Williams,NE]
Powers are more complicated than properties which are always on display [Williams,NE]