PhilSci Archive

The Viability of a Pure-Power Ontology

Ford, Sharon R (2009) The Viability of a Pure-Power Ontology. In: UNSPECIFIED.

[img]
Preview
PDF
2009_Sharon_R_Ford_-_Viability_of_a_Pure_Power_Theory.pdf

Download (241kB)

Abstract

In accounting for the objects and properties of the manifest world, issues include the fundamentality, causal efficacy and ontological robustness of the dispositional (powers, potentials, capacities) versus the non-dispositional (categorical, qualitative). Concerning fundamentality, the available options seem to be that: (i) dispositional and categorical properties are different kinds, both fundamental; (ii) dispositional and categorical properties are one and the same, and fundamental; (iii) only categorical properties are fundamental while dispositional properties, if they exist, are higher-order; and (iv) only dispositional properties are fundamental while categorical properties, if they exist, are higher-order. The viability of option (iv), a pure-power ontology, has met detracting arguments from several quarters. This paper outlines why the fourth option appears nonetheless attractive and provides a defence for its credibility by suggesting how the manifestly qualitative world can be explained without recourse to fundamental categorical properties.


Export/Citation: EndNote | BibTeX | Dublin Core | ASCII/Text Citation (Chicago) | HTML Citation | OpenURL
Social Networking:
Share |

Item Type: Conference or Workshop Item (UNSPECIFIED)
Creators:
CreatorsEmailORCID
Ford, Sharon Rsharon.ford@uqconnect.edu.au
Keywords: powers; pure-power theory; light-like networks; dispositional properties; categorical properties
Subjects: General Issues > Causation
General Issues > Laws of Nature
Depositing User: Dr. Sharon R. Ford
Date Deposited: 17 Feb 2011 15:01
Last Modified: 17 Feb 2011 15:01
Item ID: 8487
Subjects: General Issues > Causation
General Issues > Laws of Nature
Date: July 2009
URI: https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/8487

Monthly Views for the past 3 years

Monthly Downloads for the past 3 years

Plum Analytics

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item