Dispositionalism and the Metaphysics of ScienceDispositionalism is the view that causal powers are among the irreducible properties of nature. It has long been among the core competing positions in the metaphysics of laws, but its potential implications for other key debates within metaphysics and the philosophy of science have remained under-explored. Travis Dumsday fills this major gap in the literature by establishing new connections between dispositionalism and such topics as substance ontology, ontic structural realism, material composition, emergentism, natural-kind essentialism, perdurantism, time travel, and spacetime substantivalism. He also puts forward a novel view concerning the precise relationship between causal powers and the fundamental laws of nature. His rich and accessible study will appeal to readers interested in contemporary analytic metaphysics and philosophy of science. |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
advocates argue argument Armstrong atomism version B-theory bundle theory categorical properties categoricalist causal powers ceteris paribus ceteris paribus clauses Chapter claim concrete objects constantly manifested dispositions constantly manifested power CP clauses debate determinable dispositional properties dispositionalism is true dispositionalist distinct electron Eliminativist OSR emergentism endurantism entails exist extended simples extrinsic favour formulation fundamental geometrical/structural properties grandfather paradox grounded hylomorphism idea identity conditions identity theory dispositionalism insofar instance instantiation relation intrinsic properties Jaworski Ladyman least literature Markosian MaxCon simples moderate realism Mumford necessarily constantly manifested neutral monism nomic dispositionalism nominalist nomological necessitarianism notion Oderberg option particles perdurantism perdurantist philosophy of mind Platonic realism plausible possessed Premise prime matter primitive activities primitive substance theory reality relational ontology robust natural-kind essentialism Section shape sort spacetime spatial structural realism stuff substrata substratum theory supports dispositionalism temporal theory of gunk things tion tionalism tropes truthmaker uninstantiated universals versions of OSR