Powers: A Study in MetaphysicsClarendon Press, 30. nov 2006 - 252 pages George Molnar came to see that the solution to a number of the problems of contemporary philosophy lay in the development of an alternative to Hume's metaphysics. This alternative would have real causal powers at its centre. Molnar set about developing a thorough account of powers that might persuade those who remained, perhaps unknowingly, in the grip of Humean assumptions. He succeeded in producing something both highly focused and at the same time wide-ranging. He showed both that the notion of a power was central and that it could serve to dispel a number of long-standing philosophical problems. Molnar's account of powers is as realist as any that has so far appeared. He shows that dispositions are as real as any other properties. Specifically, they do not depend for their existence on their manifestations. Nevertheless, they are directed towards such manifestations. Molnar thus appropriates the notion of intentionality, from Brentano, and argues that it is the essential characteristic of powers. He offers a persuasive case for there being some basic and ungrounded powers, thus ruling out the reducibility of the dispositional to the non-dispositional. However, he does allow that there are non-power properties as well as power properties. In this respect, his final position is dualistic. This is contemporary metaphysics of the highest quality. It is a work that was almost complete when its author died. It has been edited for publication by another specialist in the subject, Stephen Mumford, who has also provided an introduction that will allow non-specialists to become acquainted with the issues. David Armstrong, one of the greatest living metaphysicians and personal friend of George Molnar, has provided a Foreword. |
From inside the book
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Page i
... powers at its centre. Molnar set about developing a thorough account of powers that might persuade those who remained, perhaps unknowingly, in the grip of Humean assumptions. He succeeded in producing something both highly focused and ...
... powers at its centre. Molnar set about developing a thorough account of powers that might persuade those who remained, perhaps unknowingly, in the grip of Humean assumptions. He succeeded in producing something both highly focused and ...
Page vii
... powers. We can be very grateful to Stephen Mumford for making a volume from the much that we have. His excellent Introduction serves in place of the introductory chapter that was left unwritten. The chapters that were written put ...
... powers. We can be very grateful to Stephen Mumford for making a volume from the much that we have. His excellent Introduction serves in place of the introductory chapter that was left unwritten. The chapters that were written put ...
Page xi
... Powers Stephen Mumford 19 POWERS George Molnar 21 1.1 21 1.2 22 25 25 27 1. The Elements (I): Properties Foundations Properties Are Tropes 1.3 Selective Realism about Properties 1.3.1 Predicates and properties are not isomorphic 1.3.2 ...
... Powers Stephen Mumford 19 POWERS George Molnar 21 1.1 21 1.2 22 25 25 27 1. The Elements (I): Properties Foundations Properties Are Tropes 1.3 Selective Realism about Properties 1.3.1 Predicates and properties are not isomorphic 1.3.2 ...
Page 2
... power property than asserting the truth of a conditional, and that conditional mentions only events with their categorical properties, then power ascriptions can be reduced away into non-powers. Carnap (1936–7) had argued this line ...
... power property than asserting the truth of a conditional, and that conditional mentions only events with their categorical properties, then power ascriptions can be reduced away into non-powers. Carnap (1936–7) had argued this line ...
Page 3
... Powers, however, do we get a detailed defence of the ontological status of power properties. Within realism and the anti-Humean movement, this book ought, therefore, to be considered one of the key texts. George. Molnar: The. Man. and. his.
... Powers, however, do we get a detailed defence of the ontological status of power properties. Within realism and the anti-Humean movement, this book ought, therefore, to be considered one of the key texts. George. Molnar: The. Man. and. his.
Contents
1 | |
POWERS | 19 |
Properties | 21 |
On What There Is | 47 |
3 Directedness | 60 |
4 Independence | 82 |
5 Actuality | 99 |
6 Intrinsicality | 102 |
8 Do Powers Need Grounds? | 125 |
9 The Ontology of Powers | 143 |
10 NonPowers | 158 |
11 Objections Considered | 173 |
12 Powers at Work | 186 |
References | 224 |
Index | 233 |
7 Objectivity | 111 |
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Common terms and phrases
accept According actual analysis answer appear applied argued argument Armstrong atomic basic bearers behaviour believe causal cause Chapter claim complex concept conclusion conditional connections consider contains contingent definition depends derivative determinate directed dispositional distinct effects entail essential example exist experience explain express extrinsic fact force fundamental give given grounded Hume Humean idea identity important impossible independent intentional object intentionality intrinsic intrinsic properties involve kind laws Lewis logical manifestation matter meaning mental metaphysics modal Molnar nature necessary necessity non-powers object occur ontological pain particles particular philosophers physical position possible powers predicates principle priori probability problem properties propositions qualities question realism reason reduction relation respect response seems sense shape sides simple space statement strong structural suggests theory Thesis thing tion tropes true truth truthmakers turn types universals whole