Full Idea
Thermostats, thermometers, axes, spoons, and batteries have dispositional essences, which make them what they are.
Gist of Idea
Many artefacts have dispositional essences, which make them what they are
Source
Stephen Mumford (Dispositions [1998], 01.2 iv)
Book Reference
Mumford,Stephen: 'Dispositions' [OUP 1998], p.8
A Reaction
I would have thought that we could extend this proposal well beyond artefacts, but it certainly seems particularly clear in artefacts, where a human intention seems to be inescapably involved.