more from Stephen Mumford

Single Idea 14307

[catalogued under 26. Natural Theory / D. Laws of Nature / 8. Scientific Essentialism / d. Knowing essences]

Full Idea

It seems reasonable to assume that there are some dispositions of some things of which we are not aware because we have not yet discovered the way to get these dispositions to manifest.

Gist of Idea

Some dispositions are so far unknown, until we learn how to manifest them

Source

Stephen Mumford (Dispositions [1998], 03.7)

Book Reference

Mumford,Stephen: 'Dispositions' [OUP 1998], p.56


A Reaction

This strikes me as a pretty good description of what scientists are currently doing when, for example, they build a new particle accelerator.