Single Idea 15289

[catalogued under 10. Modality / A. Necessity / 7. Natural Necessity]

Full Idea

The relationship between co-existing properties or successive events or states is naturally necessary when understood by scientists to be related by generative mechanisms, whose structure and components constitute the essential natures of the world.

Gist of Idea

Property or event relations are naturally necessary if generated by essential mechanisms

Source

Harré,R./Madden,E.H. (Causal Powers [1975], 7.III)

Book Reference

Harré,R/Madden,E.H.: 'Causal Powers: A Theory of Natural Necessity' [Blackwell 1975], p.130


A Reaction

Does that mean that the relationship between an actual state and a possible state is metaphysically necessary, rather than naturally necessary? I think we need dispositions to be part of actuality, and hence replace 'co-existing' with 'possible'.