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