The Problem of Free Mass: Must Properties Cluster?

Author: Schaffer J.

Source: Philosophy and Phenomenological Research, Volume 66, Number 1, 1 January 2003 , pp. 125-138(14)

Publisher: International Phenomenological Society

Buy & download fulltext article:

The full text article is not available for purchase.

The publisher only permits individual articles to be downloaded by subscribers.

Abstract:

Properties come in clusters. It seems impossible, for instance, that a mass could float free, unattached to any other property. David Armstrong takes this as a reductio of the bundle theory and an argument for substrata, while Peter Simons and Arda Denkel reply by supplementing the bundle theory with accounts of property interdependencies. I argue against both views. Virtually all plausible ontologies turn out to be committed to the existence of free masses. I develop and defend the view that the clustering of properties is a mere contingent truth, on grounds that properties can be subtracted one-by-one. This opens the door not just to the (unsupplemented) bundle theory, but also to any plausible account of the relation between objects and properties.

Document Type: Research article

Publication date: 2003-01-01

More about this publication?

This journal is now published by Blackwell Publishing. Current issues of this journal are available from here . Backfile content is in the process of being reloaded by Blackwell, and will shortly be removed from this page and available only from the Blackwell link above. If you have any queries about continued access to this journal please contact mailto:onlinehelp@oxon.blackwellpublishing.com.
Information for Authors
Subscribe to this Title
ingentaconnect is not responsible for the content or availability of external websites