more from John Heil

Single Idea 18523

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

Full Idea

Some philosophers who embrace properties as powers hold that every property is a power (Bird), or that some properties are qualities and some are powers (Ellis; Molnar). The latter include powers which are 'grounded in' qualities (Mumford).

Gist of Idea

Are all properties powers, or are there also qualities, or do qualities have the powers?

Source

John Heil (The Universe as We Find It [2012], 04.4)

Book Reference

Heil,John: 'The Universe as We Find It' [OUP 2012], p.60


A Reaction

I don't like Heil's emphasis on 'qualities', which seems to imply their phenomenal rather than their real aspect. I'm inclined to favour the all-powers view, but can't answer the question 'but what HAS these powers?' Stuff is intrinsically powerful.