more from Sydney Shoemaker

Single Idea 8545

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

Full Idea

My account of properties concerns those with respect to which change is possible; it is not intended to apply to such properties of numbers as being even and being prime.

Gist of Idea

A causal theory of properties focuses on change, not (say) on abstract properties of numbers

Source

Sydney Shoemaker (Causality and Properties [1980], §02)

Book Reference

Shoemaker,Sydney: 'Identity, Cause and Mind' [OUP 2003], p.209


A Reaction

You could argue that while these properties may not cause change, they are abstract powers. Being even allows division by 2, and being prime blocks it. I say patterns are the basis, and dividing groups of physical objects is involved.