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Ideas of Neil E. Williams, by Text
[American, fl. 2010, At the University of Buffalo.]
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2019
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The Powers Metaphysics
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01.1
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p.2
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23768
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A metaphysic is a set of wider explanations derived from a basic ontology
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01.2
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p.4
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23769
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Promoting an ontology by its implied good metaphysic is an 'argument-by-display'
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01.2
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p.8
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23770
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Reductive analysis makes a concept clearer, by giving an alternative simpler set
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01.4
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p.13
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23771
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Fundamental physics describes everything in terms of powers
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01.5
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p.16
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23772
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If objects are property bundles, the properties need combining powers
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02.1
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p.23
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23773
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Humeans say properties are passive, possibility is vast, laws are descriptions, causation is weak
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03.1
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p.47
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23774
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There are basic powers, which underlie dispositions, potentialities, capacities etc
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03.1
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p.49
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23775
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Powers are 'multi-track' if they can produce a variety of manifestations
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03.3
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p.56
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23776
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Rather than pure powers or pure categoricals, I favour basics which are both at once
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03.3
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p.57
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23777
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Powers are more complicated than properties which are always on display
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03.3
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p.64
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23778
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Powers contain lawlike features, pointing to possible future states
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04.1
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p.69
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23779
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We shouldn't posit the existence of anything we have a word for
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04.3
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p.93
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23780
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Every possible state of affairs is written into its originating powers
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06.1
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p.121
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23783
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Change exists, it is causal, and it needs an explanation
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06.1
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p.121
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23782
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Causation is the exercise of powers
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06.3
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p.136
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23784
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Processes don't begin or end; they just change direction unexpectedly
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07.2
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p.154
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23785
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Causation needs to explain stasis, as well as change
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07.2
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p.156
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23786
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The status quo is part of what exists, and so needs metaphysical explanation
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07.6
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p.170
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23787
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If causes and effects overlap, that makes changes impossible
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08.1
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p.175
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23788
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Four-Dimensional is Perdurantism (temporal parts), plus Eternalism
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08.4
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p.191
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23789
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Naming powers is unwise, because that it usually done by a single manifestation
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09.3
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p.211
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23790
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Processes are either strings of short unchanging states, or continuous and unreducible events
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10.2
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p.230
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23791
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Dispositions are just useful descriptions, which are explained by underlying powers
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