Skip to main content Accessibility help
×
Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-q99xh Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-22T08:21:58.306Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Chapter 2 - The Reality of Pure Powers

from Part I - Why Powers?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 October 2022

William A. Bauer
Affiliation:
North Carolina State University
Get access

Summary

This chapter explores possible differences between powerful qualities and pure powers, argues for the Pure Powers Model, and discusses the problem of being for pure powers. It is argued that powerful qualities are modally indistinguishable from pure powers but have a denser nature. Since pure powers are ontologically simpler than powerful qualities yet equally explanatorily relevant to modality, we should reject powerful qualities. After rejecting the Powerful Qualities Model, the reality of pure powers is defended. If pure powers are to provide a stable basis for physical modality, the problem of their being or grounding during periods of nonmanifestation needs resolution. It is argued that pure powers are self-grounded. A regress argument advanced by Stathis Psillos, which challenges the self-grounding of pure powers, is deflected. Lastly, Point Theory is developed to explain the self-grounding of pure powers.

Type
Chapter
Information
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2022

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Save book to Kindle

To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure [email protected] is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.

Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.

Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.

  • The Reality of Pure Powers
  • William A. Bauer, North Carolina State University
  • Book: Causal Powers and the Intentionality Continuum
  • Online publication: 13 October 2022
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009214858.005
Available formats
×

Save book to Dropbox

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.

  • The Reality of Pure Powers
  • William A. Bauer, North Carolina State University
  • Book: Causal Powers and the Intentionality Continuum
  • Online publication: 13 October 2022
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009214858.005
Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • The Reality of Pure Powers
  • William A. Bauer, North Carolina State University
  • Book: Causal Powers and the Intentionality Continuum
  • Online publication: 13 October 2022
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009214858.005
Available formats
×