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Static and dynamic dispositions

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

22 Scopus citations

Abstract

When it comes to scientific explanation, our parsimonious tendencies mean that we focus almost exclusively on those dispositions whose manifestations result in some sort of change - changes in properties, locations, velocities and so on. Following this tendency, our notion of causation is one that is inherently dynamic, as if the maintenance of the status quo were merely a given. Contrary to this position, I argue that a complete concept of causation must also account for dispositions whose manifestations involve no changes at all, and that a causal theory that fails to include these 'static' dispositions alongside the dynamic ones renders static occurrences miraculous.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)303-324
Number of pages22
JournalSynthese
Volume146
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2005

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