Single Idea 15122

[catalogued under 8. Modes of Existence / C. Powers and Dispositions / 5. Powers and Properties]

Full Idea

If there is more to the nature of a property than the causal powers that it confers, then two different internal natures of properties might necessitate the same causal profile.

Gist of Idea

Could two different properties have the same causal profile?

Source

John Hawthorne (Causal Structuralism [2001], Intro)

Book Reference

Hawthorne,John: 'Metaphysical Essays' [OUP 2002], p.212


A Reaction

If the causal profiles were identical, it is hard to see how we could even propose, let alone test, their intrinsic difference. ...Unless, perhaps, we knew that the properties arose from different substrata.

Related Idea

Idea 15124 If properties are more than their powers, we could have two properties with the same power [Hawthorne]