Potentiality : from dispositions to modality / Barbara Vetter.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Vetter, Barbara, 1982- author.

Series:

Oxford philosophical monographs

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Disposition (Philosophy).

Ontology.

Metaphysics.

Physical Description:

xii, 335 pages ; 24 cm.

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

New York, NY : Oxford University Press, 2015.

Summary:

Individual objects have potentials: paper has the potential to burn; an acorn has the potential to turn into a tree. Barbara Vetter investigates the metaphysics of such potentials, and develops a dispositionalist view of metaphysical modality which takes account of contemporary developments in metaphysics, logic, and semantics.

Contents:

1 The Project 1

1.1 Introduction 1

1.2 Modality 4

1.3 Dispositionalism about modality 10

1.4 Three constraints 15

1.5 Potentiality 19

1.6 Background assumptions 23

1.7 Outline of the book 30

2 Dispositions: Against the Standard Conception 33

2.1 Introduction 33

2.2 Dispositions and conditionals: the state of the debate 35

2.3 The problem of qualitative diversity 39

2.4 The problem of quantitative diversity 43

2.5 Nomological dispositions 50

2.6 Multi-track dispositions and realism 53

2.7 Preview of chapter 3 60

3 Dispositions: an Alternative Conception 63

3.1 A fresh start 63

3.2 Modal semantics 67

3.3 Modal semantics, continued 75

3.4 A background for context-sensitivity 79

3.5 Maximal dispositions 85

3.6 Taking stock: from dispositions to potentiality 94

4 Varieties of Potentiality 101

4.1 Introduction 101

4.2 Joint potentiality introduced 105

4.3 Joint potentiality: five questions 108

4.4 Extrinsic potentiality introduced 122

4.5 Extrinsic potentiality systematized 130

4.6 Iterated potentiality 135

4.7 Taking stock: expanding potentiality 139

5 Formalizing Potentiality 141

5.1 Introduction 141

5.2 Framing the language 143

5.3 Difficult cases 148

5.4 Defining iterated potentiality 158

5.5 Introducing the logic of potentiality 161

5.6 Comparisons: possibility, essence, ability 164

5.7 Defending the principles 170

5.8 Interlude: potentiality in time 186

5.9 The logic of potentiality and the logic of possibility 194

6 Possibility: Metaphysics and Semantics 197

6.1 Possibility defined 197

6.2 Applying the definition 200

6.3 Three constraints 206

6.4 Formal adequacy 207

6.5 Semantic utility: introduction 214

6.6 'Can' and context-sensitivity 217

6.7 Dynamic modality beyond 'can' 223

6.8 Dynamic modals as predicate operators 228

6.9 Modality: root versus epistemic 232

6.10 Conclusion 246

7 Objections 247

7.1 Introduction 247

7.2 Potentiality without possibility? 250

7.3 A catch-all solution: the powerful world 257

7.4 Interlude: the powerful world and possible worlds 263

7.5 Possibilities of existence 267

7.6 Possibilities of non-existence 273

7.7 Abstract objects 277

7.8 Nomic possibility and metaphysical possibility 281

7.9 Metaphysical possibility in time 290

7.10 Conclusion 299.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

0198714319

9780198714316

OCLC:

903509266