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Metaphysics lecture notes - Powers (1)
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Lecture notes for third-year metaphysics module
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VIII. Powers: the framework position- Conditional analysis (i.e., x soluble x
VIII.a. Aristotelianism dissolving when placed in liquid where
- Aristotelian view of dynamic world of being in liquid & being dissolved = non-
powers where substances having own dispositional occurrent terms & all
potentialities (= power producing future connectives = material & truth-functional)
possibility) (i.e., bread nourishing, fire
burning etc.)
- Internal principles of change requiring ≠ - Example of Ryle’s dispositional analysis
action from external laws of nature of mental phenomena: belief = disposition
acting individually & independently from of behaviour (i.e., belief in rain if a
own accord disposed taking umbrella when leaving
- All-encompassing worldview applying to house)
animate (i.e., potential of being - Problem: material implication true
butcher/baker) & inanimate (i.e., wood whenever antecedent false (Carnap) (i.e.,
potentially burning/making house) worlds something never placed in liquid = trivially
- Notion of telos (see Aristotle’s four soluble = both soluble & insoluble)
causes) (i.e., telos of solubility = being - Solution: counterfactual analysis ≠
dissolved) restricted to truth in own world
- Aquinas take on Aristotelian metaphysics
reconciled with Catholic faith VIII.c. The revival of powers in metaphysics
o Actions specifically distinguished by
- Modern phenomenalism (Armstrong) =
virtue of diversity of active powers
scientific variant on Berkeley
o Active power directed towards
- Verification principle: equating meaning
ultimate end beyond which agent with conditions of verifying statement
seeking nothing more (i.e., sugar - Operationalism: meaning of statement
dissolving only until complete identical with operation required for
dissolution) confirming statement (i.e., time)
- Accepting truth-maker principle
VIII.b. The empiricist rejection of powers (Armstrong) question truth-maker of
- Rejection necessary causation, power, conditionals problem: conditionals =
force & energy metaphysics of forces brute truths
abandoned - Potential truth-maker of conditional =
- Logical positivism containing anti- property realism about dispositional
metaphysical strands of naturalism, properties
scientism, verificationism, phenomenalism - Revival dispositions/powers in
& operationalism metaphysics
- Problem: science full of disposition terms
(i.e., solubility, fragility, gravitational mass) VIII.d. Martin’s electro-fink case
resembling Aristotelian powers
- Attempt reconceptualising disposition - Conditional analysis of disposition
concepts in terms of conditional ascription: ascription of any disposition
statements restricted to ’occurrent’ predicate D subjunctive conditional ‘if F,
predicates in antecedent & consequent then G’ reductive account due to
disposition ascriptions being merely
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