Ideas of Neil E. Williams, by Theme

[American, fl. 2010, At the University of Buffalo.]

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1. Philosophy / F. Analytic Philosophy / 4. Conceptual Analysis
23770 Reductive analysis makes a concept clearer, by giving an alternative simpler set
2. Reason / E. Argument / 1. Argument
23769 Promoting an ontology by its implied good metaphysic is an 'argument-by-display'
7. Existence / B. Change in Existence / 1. Nature of Change
23783 Change exists, it is causal, and it needs an explanation
7. Existence / B. Change in Existence / 2. Processes
23784 Processes don't begin or end; they just change direction unexpectedly
23790 Processes are either strings of short unchanging states, or continuous and unreducible events
7. Existence / D. Theories of Reality / 1. Ontologies
23768 A metaphysic is a set of wider explanations derived from a basic ontology
23786 The status quo is part of what exists, and so needs metaphysical explanation
23773 Humeans say properties are passive, possibility is vast, laws are descriptions, causation is weak
23779 We shouldn't posit the existence of anything we have a word for
8. Modes of Existence / C. Powers and Dispositions / 1. Powers
23780 Every possible state of affairs is written into its originating powers
23789 Naming powers is unwise, because that it usually done by a single manifestation
23775 Powers are 'multi-track' if they can produce a variety of manifestations
8. Modes of Existence / C. Powers and Dispositions / 2. Powers as Basic
23771 Fundamental physics describes everything in terms of powers
8. Modes of Existence / C. Powers and Dispositions / 5. Powers and Properties
23776 Rather than pure powers or pure categoricals, I favour basics which are both at once
23777 Powers are more complicated than properties which are always on display
8. Modes of Existence / C. Powers and Dispositions / 6. Dispositions / b. Dispositions and powers
23774 There are basic powers, which underlie dispositions, potentialities, capacities etc
23791 Dispositions are just useful descriptions, which are explained by underlying powers
9. Objects / A. Existence of Objects / 1. Physical Objects
23772 If objects are property bundles, the properties need combining powers
9. Objects / E. Objects over Time / 4. Four-Dimensionalism
23788 Four-Dimensional is Perdurantism (temporal parts), plus Eternalism
26. Natural Theory / C. Causation / 1. Causation
23782 Causation is the exercise of powers
23785 Causation needs to explain stasis, as well as change
26. Natural Theory / C. Causation / 8. Particular Causation / b. Causal relata
23787 If causes and effects overlap, that makes changes impossible
26. Natural Theory / D. Laws of Nature / 8. Scientific Essentialism / c. Essence and laws
23778 Powers contain lawlike features, pointing to possible future states