back to ideas for this text


Single Idea 8561

[from 'Causality and Properties' by Sydney Shoemaker, in 26. Natural Theory / D. Laws of Nature / 8. Scientific Essentialism / b. Scientific necessity ]

Full Idea

If there are worlds in which the causal laws are different from those that prevail in this world, ..then the properties will have to be different as well.

Gist of Idea

If a world has different causal laws, it must have different properties

Source

Sydney Shoemaker (Causality and Properties [1980], §09)

Book Reference

Shoemaker,Sydney: 'Identity, Cause and Mind' [OUP 2003], p.226


A Reaction

The next question is whether the same stuff (e.g. gold or water) could have different properties, and I take the the scientific essentialism answer to be 'no'. So the actual stuff (substances?) would have to be different.