The Bare Metaphysical Possibility of Bare Dispositions

Many philosophers hold that all dispositions must have independent causal bases. 1 challenge this view, hence defending the possibility of bare dispositions . In part I, I explain more fully what I mean by "disposition,""causal basis," and "bare disposition." In part 2, I consider the claim that the concept of a disposition entails that dispositions are not bare. In part 3. I consider arguments. due to Prior, Pargetter, and Jackson, that dispositions necessarily have distinct causal bases. In part 4, I consider arguments by Smith and Stoljar that there can't be bare dispositions because they would make for unwelcome "barely true" counterfactuals. In the end. I find no reason to deny the possibility of bare dispositions.     

The Bare Past

Philosophia - In this paper, I first introduce one of the most prominent objections against the Growing Block Theory of time (GBT), the so-called ‘epistemic objection’, according to...     

麦基特里克:"关于单纯倾向性的单纯的形而上学可能性"

要是有人问,为何服食鸦片会致人昏睡,仅仅回答说这是因为鸦片本身具有致人昏睡的倾向性,是非常不够的。许多哲学家认为,必须存在与倾向性不同的东西,来因果地解释该倾向性的显现(the manifestation of the disposition);即每一个倾向性都有一个独立的因果基础(a distinct causal basis)。而单纯倾向性就是没有独立的因果基础的倾向性。然而我认为单纯     

戳穿"招魂术"的骗局

"招魂术",是偏僻的农村地区仍然存在的一种封建迷信活动.它以借口能使死者"现声"或"现形"的方式而骗取了因失去亲人又盼望相见的部分缺少科学知识的普通百姓的信任.     

Theories of Individuation: A Reconsideration of Bare Particulars

The metaphysical problem of individuation requires an answer to two different but intimately related questions: 1) How are we to characterize individuality ontologically? To what ontological category or logical type does individuality belong? 2) What sort of distinction is there between the individuality and nature of an individual, e.g., a real distinction, a modal distinction, a distinction of reason, or some other distinction My purpose in this article is to clarify a bare particular account of individuation and respond to objections that have been raised against bare particulars as individuators.     

解开了『天女散花』之谜

一个初冬的夜晚,我在离家四十华里的工地上接到了父亲病死的噩耗,哀悼悲恸之情迫使我深夜往家里赶.狂风在山岭上啸叫,愈是夜间刮得愈猛烈,天上一轮圆月被风沙裹挟着,象桔黄色的杏子在山尖上,透过灰黄色的迷雾,发出冷淡的黄澄澄的光,借着这迷雾与月色,当我翻过三道岭之后,来到一片形似乱葬岗的地方.我的脚下是枯草落叶铺成的羊肠小径,因抄近路,我走的实际已是人迹罕至的蜿蜒古道.……     

Killing and Letting-Die: Bare Differences and Clear Differences

Philosophical Studies -     

Bare Branches: The Security Implications of Asia's Surplus Male Population

Books reviewed:
Bare Branches: The Security Implications of Asia's Surplus Male Population. By Valerie Hudson and Andrea den Boer. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press. 2004. 400 pp. Reviewed by Rose McDermott University of California, Santa Barbara