back to ideas for this text


Single Idea 15466

[from 'The Mind in Nature' by C.B. Martin, in 8. Modes of Existence / C. Powers and Dispositions / 6. Dispositions / c. Dispositions as conditional ]

Full Idea

According to the conditional analysis of 'the wire is live', if the wire is touched then it gives off electricity. What ultimately defeats this analysis is the acknowledged possibility of objects gaining or losing powers.

Gist of Idea

'The wire is live' can't be analysed as a conditional, because a wire can change its powers

Source

C.B. Martin (The Mind in Nature [2008], 02.3)

Book Reference

Martin,C.B.: 'The Mind in Nature' [OUP 2008], p.15


A Reaction

He offers his 'electro-fink' as a counterexample, where touching the wire changes its disposition. The conditional analysis is simple and clearcut, but dispositions in reality are complex and unstable.

Related Idea

Idea 15467 Powers depend on circumstances, so can't be given a conditional analysis [Martin,CB]