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Single Idea 7028

[from 'From an Ontological Point of View' by John Heil, in 12. Knowledge Sources / B. Perception / 2. Qualities in Perception / a. Qualities in perception ]

Full Idea

A pure quality, a property altogether lacking in dispositionality, would be undetectable and would, in one obvious sense, make no difference to its possessor.

Gist of Idea

If properties were qualities without dispositions, they would be undetectable

Source

John Heil (From an Ontological Point of View [2003], 11.4)

Book Reference

Heil,John: 'From an Ontological Point of View' [OUP 2005], p.118


A Reaction

This seems to be a very forceful and simple reason why we cannot view properties simply as qualities of things. Heil wants properties to be dispositions and qualities; personally I would vote for them just being dispositions or powers.