Single Idea 15489

[catalogued under 8. Modes of Existence / C. Powers and Dispositions / 1. Powers]

Full Idea

A property that is intrinsically incapable of affecting or being affected by anything else, actual or possible, is not merely a case of inertness - it amounts to a no-thing.

Gist of Idea

A property that cannot interact is worse than inert - it isn't there at all

Source

C.B. Martin (The Mind in Nature [2008], 06.6)

Book Reference

Martin,C.B.: 'The Mind in Nature' [OUP 2008], p.66


A Reaction

In the end Martin rejects Shoemaker's purely causal account of properties, but he clearly understands Shoemaker's point well.

Related Idea

Idea 3534 To be is to have causal powers [Alexander,S]