Lecture notes
Metaphysics lecture notes - Powers (3)
- Module
- Metaphysics
- Institution
- Durham University (DUT)
Lecture notes for metaphysics third-year module
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X. Powers - applicationsX.a. Causation - Power metaphysics conceiving of modality
as feature of world ≠ grounding modality in
- Causation occurring in manifestation of
truths of other worlds
powers
- Single world in powers view one-world
- Causation involving reciprocal mutual
manifestation partners doing action solely natural modality (i.e., struck match lighting
≠ transforming into chicken due to
possible as result of concert action (Martin)
- Causation exhibiting dispositional modality: existence/absence of natural causal power
for effect)
causes tending producing effects type-
- Effect naturally necessary in absence of
causal claims ≠ universal regularities (i.e.,
power stopping effect from occurring
heavy rains tending causing flooding with
- Dispositional theories of modality (Borghini,
few exceptions)
Williams, Jacobs & Vetter)
o Singular causal claims: cause/power
- Controversy: truly dispositional theory used
only tending towards effect &
for delivering modal logic based on
succeeding in producing effect on
classical framework due to putatively
occasion
radical character of theory
- Separation causal production &
- Classical modal logic reliant on modal
necessitarianism
values of necessity & possibility
- Dispositionalism accepting causes as
- Tendency = third modal value between
genuinely producing effects without
necessity & pure possibility question
necessity ( rejecting Principle of Sufficient
feasibility of tendency in standard modal
Reason, see Mumford & Anjum)
frameworks (Anjum & Mumford)
- Powers causing manifestations & causes =
- Problem: case of fink (Martin) for
power manifesting itself theory of
understanding of causation as power for
causation where causation conceived as
effect grounded in possibility of effect
primitive (= unanalysable)
- Response: tendency view solving fink case
- Symptoms of causation detected by
requirement accepting third modal value
methods of science as evidence of causal
of tendency
connection (Mumford & Anjum)
X.c. Laws of nature
- Powers = truthmakers of causal laws (Bird)
- ≠ place/need for laws in power metaphysics
(Mumford)
o De-powered/de-animated laws of
nature entering philosophical &
scientific thinking after rejection of
powers view for filling explanatory gap
in ontology
o Problem: explaining nature + function +
role in model of law of nature
Laws of nature = mere descriptions
of behaviour irrelevant
X.b. Modality X.d. Free will
- Determinism = enslavement to necessity
≠ freedom/choice/alternative possibility
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