Dispositionalism and the Metaphysics of Science

Dispositionalism is the view that causal powers are irreducible properties of nature, and Travis Dumsday's book explores its implications for other key debates in metaphysics and science. He establishes connections between dispositionalism and various topics, including substance ontology, ontic structural realism, material composition, emergentism, natural-kind essentialism, perdurantism, time travel, and spacetime substantivalism, and offers a novel view on the relationship between causal powers and fundamental laws.

Format: Hardback
Length: 228 pages
Publication date: 24 January 2019
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Dispositionalism is a philosophical stance that posits that certain fundamental properties of nature cannot be reduced or explained in terms of other factors. One of these irreducible properties is causal power, which refers to the ability of an object or event to cause a change in another object or event. Dispositionalism has been a central topic in the metaphysics of laws, which is the study of the nature and principles of laws. However, the potential implications of dispositionalism for other key debates within metaphysics and the philosophy of science have largely been overlooked.

In recent years, Travis Dumsday has made significant contributions to filling this gap in the literature. Through his work, Dumsday establishes new connections between dispositionalism and a range of other topics, including substance ontology, ontic structural realism, material composition, emergentism, natural-kind essentialism, perdurantism, time travel, and spacetime substantivalism. By exploring these connections, Dumsday offers a novel view concerning the precise relationship between causal powers and the fundamental laws of nature.

One of the key insights of dispositionalism is that it challenges the traditional view that laws of nature are universal and apply to all objects and events in the universe. Instead, Dumsday argues that laws of nature are contingent and specific to particular objects and events. This means that the same law may apply to different objects or events in different ways, depending on their respective properties and circumstances. For example, the law of gravity may apply to different objects with different masses and densities in different ways, depending on their relative positions in space.

Another important aspect of dispositionalism is its implications for the philosophy of science. Dumsday argues that the success of scientific theories depends on the existence of certain causal powers that are specific to the objects and events being studied. For example, the theory of evolution depends on the existence of certain causal powers that allow for the transformation of one species into another over time. If these causal powers do not exist, then the theory of evolution would be unable to explain the diversity of life on Earth.

In addition to these theoretical implications, dispositionalism also has practical implications for the study of law and justice. Dumsday argues that the law is not just a set of rules or regulations but is also a set of causal powers that govern the behavior of individuals and societies. This means that the law is not just a matter of enforcement but is also a matter of understanding and applying the right causal powers that govern human behavior.

Overall, Travis Dumsday's rich and accessible study of dispositionalism offers a valuable contribution to contemporary analytic metaphysics and philosophy of science. By exploring the connections between dispositionalism and a range of other topics, Dumsday provides readers with a deeper understanding of the nature of causality and the fundamental laws of nature. His work will appeal to scholars and students interested in these fields and will help to advance our understanding of the world around us.

Dispositionalism is a philosophical stance that posits that certain fundamental properties of nature cannot be reduced or explained in terms of other factors. One of these irreducible properties is causal power, which refers to the ability of an object or event to cause a change in another object or event. Dispositionalism has been a central topic in the metaphysics of laws, which is the study of the nature and principles of laws. However, the potential implications of dispositionalism for other key debates within metaphysics and the philosophy of science have largely been overlooked.

In recent years, Travis Dumsday has made significant contributions to filling this gap in the literature. Through his work, Dumsday establishes new connections between dispositionalism and a range of other topics, including substance ontology, ontic structural realism, material composition, emergentism, natural-kind essentialism, perdurantism, time travel, and spacetime substantivalism. By exploring these connections, Dumsday offers a novel view concerning the precise relationship between causal powers and the fundamental laws of nature.

One of the key insights of dispositionalism is that it challenges the traditional view that laws of nature are universal and apply to all objects and events in the universe. Instead, Dumsday argues that laws of nature are contingent and specific to particular objects and events. This means that the same law may apply to different objects or events in different ways, depending on their respective properties and circumstances. For example, the law of gravity may apply to different objects with different masses and densities in different ways, depending on their relative positions in space.

Another important aspect of dispositionalism is its implications for the philosophy of science. Dumsday argues that the success of scientific theories depends on the existence of certain causal powers that are specific to the objects and events being studied. For example, the theory of evolution depends on the existence of certain causal powers that allow for the transformation of one species into another over time. If these causal powers do not exist, then the theory of evolution would be unable to explain the diversity of life on Earth.

In addition to these theoretical implications, dispositionalism also has practical implications for the study of law and justice. Dumsday argues that the law is not just a set of rules or regulations but is also a set of causal powers that govern the behavior of individuals and societies. This means that the law is not just a matter of enforcement but is also a matter of understanding and applying the causal powers that govern human behavior.

Overall, Travis Dumsday's rich and accessible study of dispositionalism offers a valuable contribution to contemporary analytic metaphysics and philosophy of science. By exploring the connections between dispositionalism and a range of other topics, Dumsday provides readers with a deeper understanding of the nature of causality and the fundamental laws of nature. His work will appeal to scholars and students interested in these fields and will help to advance our understanding of the world around us.

Weight: 458g
Dimension: 159 x 234 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781108480130