Combining Texts

All the ideas for 'Particulars in Particular Clothing', 'Causality and Explanation' and 'works'

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4 ideas

6. Mathematics / C. Sources of Mathematics / 6. Logicism / b. Type theory

6409	The 'simple theory of types' distinguishes levels among properties [Ramsey, by Grayling]
	Full Idea: The idea that there should be something like a distinction of levels among properties is captured in Ramsey's 'simple theory of types'.
	From: report of Frank P. Ramsey (works [1928]) by A.C. Grayling - Russell
	A reaction: I merely report this, though it is not immediately obvious how anyone would decide which 'level' a type belonged on.

8. Modes of Existence / B. Properties / 13. Tropes / a. Nature of tropes

18431	Internal relations combine some tropes into a nucleus, which bears the non-essential tropes [Simons, by Edwards]
	Full Idea: Simons's 'nuclear' option blends features of the substratum and bundle theories. First we have tropes collected by virtue of their internal relations, forming the essential kernel or nucleus. This nucleus then bears the non-essential tropes.
	From: report of Peter Simons (Particulars in Particular Clothing [1994], p.567) by Douglas Edwards - Properties 3.5
	A reaction: [compression of Edwards's summary] This strikes me as being a remarkably good theory. I am not sure of the ontological status of properties, such that they can (unaided) combine to make part of an object. What binds the non-essentials?

11. Knowledge Aims / A. Knowledge / 4. Belief / c. Aim of beliefs

3212	Beliefs are maps by which we steer [Ramsey]
	Full Idea: Beliefs are maps by which we steer.
	From: Frank P. Ramsey (works [1928]), quoted by Georges Rey - Contemporary Philosophy of Mind p.259 n5

14. Science / D. Explanation / 2. Types of Explanation / i. Explanations by mechanism

16557	Salmon's mechanisms are processes and interactions, involving marks, or conserved quantities [Salmon, by Machamer/Darden/Craver]
	Full Idea: For Salmon mechanisms are composed of processes and interactions. The interactions are identified in terms of transmitted marks and statistical relations, or (more recently) exchanges of conserved quantities.
	From: report of Wesley Salmon (Causality and Explanation [1998], 3.1) by Machamer,P/Darden,L/Craver,C - Thinking About Mechanisms 3.1
	A reaction: They say that Salmon has too little to say about the activities that constitute a mechanism. A 'mark' doesn't sound too promising, but I quite like the exchange of conserved quantities, which gets into the guts of what is going on.