back to ideas for this text


Single Idea 15264

[from 'Causal Powers' by Harré,R./Madden,E.H., in 9. Objects / C. Structure of Objects / 7. Substratum ]

Full Idea

Chemical analysis either arrives at a qualityless substance, the notorious substratum, or is obliged to declare certain qualities primary and inexplicable. Substituting individuals-with-powers for substance-with-qualities removes these difficulties.

Gist of Idea

The notorious substratum results from substance-with-qualities; individuals-with-powers solves this

Source

Harré,R./Madden,E.H. (Causal Powers [1975], 6.II)

Book Reference

Harré,R/Madden,E.H.: 'Causal Powers: A Theory of Natural Necessity' [Blackwell 1975], p.104


A Reaction

Any account gives you something as basic, and that something is always going to seem inherently and deeply mysterious. I prefer powers to substrata, but what has the powers? They like 'fields'.