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Single Idea 12686

[from 'The Metaphysics of Scientific Realism' by Brian Ellis, in 8. Modes of Existence / C. Powers and Dispositions / 6. Dispositions / b. Dispositions and powers ]

Full Idea

The causal powers are just a proper subset of the dispositional properties.

Clarification

A 'proper' subset is smaller than the set

Gist of Idea

Causal powers are a proper subset of the dispositional properties

Source

Brian Ellis (The Metaphysics of Scientific Realism [2009], 5)

Book Reference

Ellis,Brian: 'The Metaphysics of Scientific Realism' [Acument 2009], p.93


A Reaction

Sounds wrong. Causal powers have a physical reality, while a disposition sounds as if it can wholly described by a counterfactual claim. It seems better to say that things have dispositions because they have powers.