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Single Idea 12670

[filed under theme 7. Existence / B. Change in Existence / 4. Events / c. Reduction of events ]

Full Idea

We may define a physical event as any change of distribution of energy in any of its forms.

Gist of Idea

A physical event is any change of distribution of energy

Source

Brian Ellis (The Metaphysics of Scientific Realism [2009], 2)

Book Ref

Ellis,Brian: 'The Metaphysics of Scientific Realism' [Acument 2009], p.39

A Reaction

This seems to result in an awful lot of events. My own (new this morning) definition is: 'An event is a process which can be individuated in time'. Now you just have to work out what a 'process' is, but that's easier than understanding an 'event'.

The 25 ideas from 'The Metaphysics of Scientific Realism'

23781 Categoricals exist to influence powers. Such as structures, orientations and magnitudes [Ellis, by Williams,NE]
12665 I support categorical properties, although most people only want causal powers [Ellis]
12667 Metaphysics aims at the simplest explanation, without regard to testability [Ellis]
12666 We can base logic on acceptability, and abandon the Fregean account by truth-preservation [Ellis]
12668 Metaphysical necessity holds between things in the world and things they make true [Ellis]
12674 Energy is the key multi-valued property, vital to scientific realism [Ellis]
12671 I deny forces as entities that intervene in causation, but are not themselves causal [Ellis]
12670 A physical event is any change of distribution of energy [Ellis]
12673 Physical properties are those relevant to how a physical system might act [Ellis]
12672 Properties and relations are discovered, so they can't be mere sets of individuals [Ellis]
12669 Science aims to explain things, not just describe them [Ellis]
12680 Natural kind structures go right down to the bottom level [Ellis]
12681 There are natural kinds of processes [Ellis]
12675 Laws of nature are just descriptions of how things are disposed to behave [Ellis]
12683 Objects and substances are a subcategory of the natural kinds of processes [Ellis]
12676 Causal powers can't rest on things which lack causal power [Ellis]
12682 Essentialism needs categorical properties (spatiotemporal and numerical relations) and dispositions [Ellis]
12684 Spatial, temporal and numerical relations have causal roles, without being causal [Ellis]
12679 A real essence is a kind's distinctive properties [Ellis]
12685 Categorical properties depend only on the structures they represent [Ellis]
12686 Causal powers are a proper subset of the dispositional properties [Ellis]
12688 Mathematics is the formal study of the categorical dimensions of things [Ellis]
12687 Metaphysical necessities are those depending on the essential nature of things [Ellis]
12689 Simultaneity can be temporal equidistance from the Big Bang [Ellis]
12690 The present is the collapse of the light wavefront from the Big Bang [Ellis]