Single Idea 4603

[catalogued under 8. Modes of Existence / B. Properties / 5. Natural Properties]

Full Idea

Functionalists in Fodor's camp usually say that a genuine property is one that figures in some causal laws.

Gist of Idea

Functionalists in Fodor's camp usually say that a genuine property is one that figures in some causal laws

Source

John Heil (Philosophy of Mind [1998], Ch.4)

Book Reference

Heil,John: 'Philosophy of Mind' [Routledge 1998], p.118


A Reaction

The problem is that anything which can't figure in a causal law will therefore be undetectable, so we could only speculate about the existence of such properties, never know them.

Related Idea

Idea 15743 Defining natural properties by means of laws of nature is potentially circular [Lewis]