Single Idea 23712

[catalogued under 8. Modes of Existence / C. Powers and Dispositions / 4. Powers as Essence]

Full Idea

In the 'grounding' view of powers …powers are qualitative, because their essence can be specified independently of any dispositions or relations, but they fully ground dispositions.

Gist of Idea

Powers are qualitative properties which fully ground dispositions

Source

Friend/Kimpton-Nye (Dispositions and Powers [2023], 3.4)

Book Reference

Friend/Kimpton-Nye: 'Dispositions and Powers' [CUP 2023], p.57


A Reaction

[compressed] They give this as the rival view to dispositional essentialism. It may be a mistake to call a power a property (which needs to be 'of' something). Not sure how powers can be both fundamental and qualitative. Don't they also ground qualities?

Related Ideas

Idea 23711 A power is a property which consists entirely of dispositions [Friend/Kimpton-Nye]

Idea 23714 Dispositional essentialism (unlike the grounding view) says only fundamental properties are powers [Friend/Kimpton-Nye]