Single Idea 15181

[catalogued under 9. Objects / D. Essence of Objects / 8. Essence as Explanatory]

Full Idea

The property of being a deepest explanatory feature is a nonmodal property: it's an actual property.

Gist of Idea

Being a deepest explanatory feature is an actual, not a modal property

Source

Alan Sidelle (Necessity, Essence and Individuation [1989], Ch.4)

Book Reference

Sidelle,Alan: 'Necessity, Essence and Individuation' [Cornell 1989], p.126


A Reaction

I don't accept the existence of properties of the form 'being-F'. The possibility of securing a door may be the deepest explanatory feature of a lock. [To be fair to Sidelle, see context - just for once!] Dispositions are actual.