Power Worlds and the Problem of Individuation

Tugby, Matthew

Abstract

Is it metaphysically possible for a world to contain power properties but no nonpower properties? Recently, much progress has been made by powers theorists to defend the coherence of such a possibility. But unfortunately, it remains unclear how the powers in a power world are individuated. The problem is that the most obvious principle of individuation for properties in a power world is one that is circular. In this paper, it is argued that this circularity is generated by a modal assumption, which is that different families of powers exist in different possible worlds. By rejecting this assumption, a noncircular principle of individuation for power properties can be formulated. Moreover, this solution is not ad hoc because there are independent reasons for rejecting the aforementioned modal assumption.

Citation

Tugby, M. (2017). Power Worlds and the Problem of Individuation. American Philosophical Quarterly, 54(3), 269-281

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: May 10, 2016
• Publication Date: Jul 1, 2017
• Deposit Date: Jul 6, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 1, 2018
• Journal: American Philosophical Quarterly
• Print ISSN: 0003-0481
• Electronic ISSN: 2152-1123
• Publisher: University of Illinois Press
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 54
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 269-281
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1378237
• Publisher URL: http://apq.press.illinois.edu/54/3/tugby.html