Single Idea 15762

[catalogued under 8. Modes of Existence / C. Powers and Dispositions / 5. Powers and Properties]

Full Idea

Could a thing undergo radical change with respect to its properties without undergoing any change in its causal powers, or undergo radical change in its causal powers without undergoing any change in the properties that underlie these powers?

Gist of Idea

Could properties change without the powers changing, or powers change without the properties changing?

Source

Sydney Shoemaker (Causality and Properties [1980], §05)

Book Reference

Shoemaker,Sydney: 'Identity, Cause and Mind' [OUP 2003], p.215


A Reaction

I don't accept properties underlying powers, but these two questions at least force us to see how closely the two are linked.