Ideas from 'Three theses about dispositions' by Jackson/Pargetter/Prior [1982], by Theme Structure

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17. Mind and Body / B. Behaviourism / 2. Potential Behaviour
Dispositions are second-order properties, the property of having some property
                        Full Idea: It was proposed that dispositions are second-order properties of objects: the property of having some property.
                        From: report of Jackson/Pargetter/Prior (Three theses about dispositions [1982]) by David M. Armstrong - Pref to new 'Materialist Theory' p.xvii
                        A reaction: It seems more plausible to say that dispositions are first-order properties - that is, properties are dispositions, which are causal powers. A disposition to smoke is to have a causal power which leads to smoking.