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region = Western Philosophy | |
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era = [[20th-century philosophy]] | |
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name = Stephen Mumford | |
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birth = [[July 31]], [[1965]] ([[Wakefield]], [[West Yorkshire]]) | |
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death = | |
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school_tradition = [[Analytic philosophy]] | |
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main_interests = [[disposition (philosophy)|dispositions]], [[laws]], [[causation]], [[metaphysics]], [[truth]], [[aesthetics]] | |
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influences = [[Bertrand Russell|Russell]], [[David Malet Armstrong|Armstrong]] | |
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influenced = | |
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notable_ideas = [[disposition (philosophy)|dispositions]] | |
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}} |
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'''Stephen Mumford''' is a [[philosopher]] and [[Professor]] of [[metaphysics]] at the [[University of Nottingham]].<ref>Department of Philosophy: University of Nottingham - http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/philosophy/</ref> Mumford is best known for his work on [[disposition (philosophy)|dispositions]] and [[laws]], his main work is a [[monograph]] on the [[metaphysics]] of [[natural laws]] entitled "''Laws in Nature''"<ref>Philosophical Publications of Stephen Mumford: "Laws in Nature" (2004) - http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/philosophy/staff/Mumford/LawsinNature.html</ref> and he is often [[Citation|cited]] for his first major [[publication]] "''Dispositions''".<ref>Philosophical Publications of Stephen Mumford: "Dispositions" (1998) - http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/philosophy/staff/Mumford/Dispositions.html</ref> Past teaching responsibilities at the [[University of Nottingham]] have also included the [[philosophy of science]], and he was head of the department of [[philosophy]] from August 2004 to the end of the [[academic year]] in 2007, succeeded by [[Professor]] [[Penelope Mackie]].<ref>Penelope Mackie - http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/philosophy/staff/penelope-mackie.htm</ref> Professor Mumford is taking [[research]] leave from 2007 and the [[Academic department|department]] of [[philosophy]] has awarded [[David Malet Armstrong|David Armstrong]] the position of [[Professor]] of [[Metaphysics]] in the interim.<ref>David Armstrong - http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/philosophy/staff/David-Armstrong.php</ref> Mumford is also on the [[editorial board]] of several [[journals]] and is a [[Peer review|referee]] for [[Analysis (journal)|Analysis]].<ref>Analysis: Committee etc. - http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/journals/analysis/analysis_journal/committee.html</ref> Mumford's [[editorial]] responsibilities include ''[[Analysis and Metaphysics]]'', ''[[Journal of the Philosophy of Sport]]'' and ''[[Review of Contemporary Philosophy]]''.<ref>JPS Editorial Board - http://www.humankinetics.com/JPS/journalBoard.cfm</ref><ref>Analysis and Metaphysics: Editorial Board - http://www.denbridgepress.com/editorial_board.php?e=3</ref><ref>Review of Contemporary Philosophy: Editorial Board - http://www.denbridgepress.com/editorial_board.php?e=2</ref> |
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Mumford's interests also include more [[esoteric]] [[disciplines]] such as the [[philosophy of sport]]; he is currently a member of the [http://www.iaps.net/ ''International Association for the Philosophy of Sport''] and the [http://www.britishphilosophyofsport.paisley.ac.uk/links.html ''British Philosophy of Sport Association''] (where he has held the position of [[chair (official)|Vice-Chair]] and [[chair (official)|Chair]]). Mumford is also a member of the [[Aristotelian Society]]; his paper "''Negative Truth and Falsehood''" was presented to the [[Aristotelian Society|society]] during the 128th session (2006-2007) in November 2006 and is forthcoming in print (''[[Proceedings of the Aristotelian Society]]'').<ref>The Aristotelian Society - http://www.aristoteliansociety.org.uk/</ref> He considers his two passions in life as [[philosophy]] and [[sport]] (particularly [[football]]).<ref>Stephen Mumford - http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/philosophy/staff/Mumford/MumfordPage.htm</ref> As a [[research officer]] for the department at the [[University of Nottingham|University]] he is also an active [[publisher]] and [[researcher]] of matters of philosophical interest.<ref>Stephen Mumford (Research Interests) - http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/philosophy/postgrad/prospective/staff/index.html#mumford</ref> Current [[projects]] include two books, one on [[causation]] entitled "''Getting Causes from Powers''" and one on the [[philosophy of sport]] "''Watching Sport: aesthetics, ethics and emotion''", both provisionally titled. An on-going project for Mumford is acting as [[archivist]] for [[philosopher]] [[George Molnar (philosopher)|George Molnar]].<ref>George Molnar - http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/philosophy/staff/Mumford/molnarhome.htm</ref> Mumford also intends to publish a paper on [[causation]] in [[The Monist]]'s special issue on singular [[causation]], which remains ''forthcoming'' (issue scheduled for 2009)<ref>Monist Call for Papers - http://monist.buffalo.edu/callsforpapers.html#SingularCausation</ref>, and is currently a part of the [[Stephen Mumford#Metaphysics of Science|Metaphysics of Science]] research project. |
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==Biography== |
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===Education=== |
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* [[Bachelor of Arts|BA]] - ''[[Philosophy]] and [[History of Ideas]] (with [[Politics]])'' at [[Huddersfield Polytechnic]] (now [[University of Huddersfield|University]]) |
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* [[Master of Arts (postgraduate)|MA]] - ''[[Philosophy of Mind]]'' at [[University of Leeds]] |
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* [[PhD]] - Thesis: "''[[disposition (philosophy)|Dispositions]] and [[Reductionism]]''" (1994) at [[University of Leeds]] supervised by [[Robin LePoidevin]] |
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==Dispositions and "''Dispositions''" (1998)== |
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:''See main article: [[disposition (philosophy)|Dispositions]] |
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{{cquote2|Commonplace dispositions are the elasticity of a rubber band, the fragility of a wineglass, and the solubility of sugar and salt. Such dispositions are to be found in abundance.|Stephen Mumford|"''Dispositions''" (1998)|##px|##px}} |
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=="''Powers: A Study in Metaphysics''" (2003)== |
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===Background=== |
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:''See main article: [[George Molnar (philosopher)]] |
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The late [[philosopher]] [[George Molnar (philosopher)|George Molnar]] (1934-1999) published only four [[article (publishing)|philosophical papers]] on [[metaphysics]] in his career, but his importance in the field should not be underestimated. After a return to the field, following a self-imposed absence, he was working on a book ("''[[Powers: A Study in Metaphysics|Powers]]''") and continued up until his sudden and untimely death in August 1999.<ref>Philosophical Publications of Stephen Mumford: "Powers" (2003) - http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/philosophy/staff/Mumford/Powers.html</ref> The book remained unfinished until Mumford, who had previously had contact with [[George Molnar (philosopher)|Molnar]], in the summer of 1999, with the intention of giving feedback on the work (nearing completion), was approached to edit the remaining [[manuscript]] into a completed book.<ref>Molnar, G. "Powers: A Study in Metaphysics" (2003): 16</ref> Mumford, along with several other figures in the field of [[metaphysics]], including [[David Malet Armstrong|David Armstrong]], were involved collaboratively in providing insight on [[George Molnar (philosopher)|Molnar]]'s work, and as a person, but the editing was left to Mumford, as was the writing of an introductory chapter to correctly present and establish the material laid out - something which [[George Molnar (philosopher)|Molnar]] did not get round to doing before his death. [[David Malet Armstrong|Armstrong]] states, "We can be very grateful to Stephen Mumford for making a volume from the much that we have. His excellent introduction serves in place of the introductory chapter that was left unwritten".<ref>Molnar, G. "Powers: A Study in Metaphysics" (2003): vii</ref> Mumford had discussed [[George Molnar (philosopher)|Molnar]] at a conference on Australian [[metaphysics]], held in [[Grenoble]] (December 9-13, 1999), but the [[colloquium]] - organised by [[Jean-Maurice Monnoyer]], entitled "The Structure of the World: Objects, Properties and States of Affairs"<ref>Anstey, P. Book Review: "La structure du monde: objets, propriétés, états de choses" (2006); ''[[dialectica]]''., vol. 60, no. 1: 93-96</ref> - was to be the first official meeting of Mumford and [[George Molnar (philosopher)|Molnar]] as well. Mumford had considered this to be the end of the matter, but, in the spring of 2000, Mumford was contacted again concerning "''[[Powers: A Study in Metaphysics|Powers]]''". This time, however, it was through mutual friend [[Tony Skillen]] ([[lecturer]] in [[philosophy]] at the [[University of Kent]]) on behalf of [[George Molnar (philosopher)|Molnar]]'s former partner [[Carlotta McIntosh]], who had given access to the [[manuscript]] and who shared it with Mumford. Although the book was, in places, complete and filled with promise, there was much work to be done on the later chapters - Mumford reflects on a conversation between himself and [[David Malet Armstrong|Armstrong]] on the way to the [[Grenoble]] [[colloquium]], mentioning [[George Molnar (philosopher)|Molnar]]'s email stating the work was near finished, [[David Malet Armstrong|Armstrong]] replied: "it was near finished, in his mind". The main theory of powers survives, and with Mumford's help and editorial contribution is readily accessible.<ref>Molnar, G. "Powers: A Study in Metaphysics" (2003): 16-17</ref> |
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==Metaphysics of Science== |
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Professor Mumford is project leader for the [[University of Nottingham]] in the [[Arts and Humanities Research Council|AHRC]] (Arts & Humanities Research Council) funded three-year research project: the metaphysics of science. Mumford works alongside [[Alexander Bird]] ([[University of Bristol|Bristol]])<ref>Alexander Bird - http://eis.bris.ac.uk/~plajb/</ref><ref>Alexander Bird (Research) - http://eis.bris.ac.uk/~plajb/research/research.html</ref> and [[Helen Beebee]] ([[University of Birmingham|Birmingham]])<ref>Helen Beebee - http://www.philosophy.bham.ac.uk/staff/beebee.shtml</ref> within this project with their joint focus on "[[causes]], [[Physical law|laws]], [[Natural kind|kinds]], and [[disposition (philosophy)|dispositions]]". The project is described with the following abstract: "''We naturally think that what happens in the universe is governed by [[laws of nature]]. We also think that events are causally related to other events, that things are naturally classified into [[Natural kind|kinds]] (physical, chemical and biological kinds, for example), and that at least some [[natural kind]]s have distinctive [[disposition (philosophy)|dispositions]] (for example, the disposition of [[Sodium chloride|NaCl]] to dissolve in water). This project explores how, or whether, all these distinct notions - [[Physical law|law]], [[cause]], [[natural kind]], [[disposition (philosophy)|disposition]] - can be made to fit together into a coherent and unified worldview. For example, must two causally related events be such that they are members of kinds that are lawfully related? Must those kinds be natural kinds? Are natural kinds distinguished from one another by the fact that members of different kinds are disposed to behave in different ways?''".<ref>Metaphysics of Science: Homepage - http://www.bris.ac.uk/metaphysicsofscience/</ref><ref>Research - Department of Philosophy: University of Nottingham - http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/philosophy/research/research-projects.php</ref> |
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==Bibliography== |
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===Books=== |
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*{{cite book |
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| title=''David Armstrong'' |
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| publisher=[[Chesham: Acumen]] |
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| year=2007 |
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| id=ISBN 1844651002 |
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| pages= 240 pp |
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}} |
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*{{cite book |
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| title=''Laws in Nature'' |
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| publisher=[[Routledge|London: Routledge]] |
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| year=2004 |
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| id=ISBN 0-415-31128-4 |
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| pages=xvi + 230 pp |
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}} |
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*{{cite book |
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| title=''Powers: A Study in Metaphysics'' - George Molnar |
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| publisher=[[OUP|Oxford: Oxford University Press]] |
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| year=2003 |
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| id=ISBN 0-19-925978-X |
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| pages=xiv + 238 pp |
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}} |
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**Edited with an Introduction by Stephen Mumford; Foreword by [[David Malet Armstrong|David Armstrong]] |
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*{{cite book |
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| title=''Russell on Metaphysics'' (ed. Stephen Mumford) |
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| publisher=[[Routledge|London: Routledge]] |
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| year=2003 |
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| id=ISBN 0415-277450 |
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| pages=viii + 256 pp |
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}} |
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**Edited with Introductions by Stephen Mumford; ''Russell on...'' series edited by [[A.C. Grayling]] |
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*{{cite book |
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| title=''Dispositions'' |
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| publisher=[[OUP|Oxford: Clarendon Press]] |
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| year=1998 |
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| id=ISBN 0-19-823611-5 |
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| pages=xii + 249 pp |
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}} |
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*{{cite book |
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| title=''Dispositions and Reductionism'' |
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| publisher=[[University of Leeds]] ([[PhD]] [[Thesis]]) as ''Stephen Dean Mumford'' |
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| year=1994 |
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| id= |
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| pages=vii + 220 pp |
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}} |
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**''...a critical examination of reductive accounts of the meaning and ontology of dispositional discourse'' |
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**Available for consultation at the Brotherton Library, [[University of Leeds]].<ref>Leeds University Library - http://lib.leeds.ac.uk:80/record=b1407863</ref> |
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**Constituent parts published separately include: |
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***"''Dispositions, Supervenience and Reduction''" (1994). |
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***"''Dispositions, Bases, Overdetermination and Identities''" (1995). |
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===Selected Articles=== |
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* "Negative Truth and Falsehood" (November 2006) — ''[[Proceedings of the Aristotelian Society]]'' (forthcoming in print, available online via [http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/journal.asp?ref=0066-7373 Blackwell-Synergy]) |
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* "The Ungrounded Argument" (April 2006) — ''[[Synthese]]''., vol. 149, no. 3: 471-489 |
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* "Function, Structure, Capacity" (March 2006) — ''[[Studies In History and Philosophy of Science Part A]]''., vol. 37, iss. 1: 76-80 |
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* "Kinds, Essences, Powers" (December 2005) — ''[[Ratio (journal)|Ratio]]''., vol. 18, iss. 4: 420-436 |
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* "The True and the False" (June 2005) — ''[[Australasian Journal of Philosophy]]''., vol. 83, no.2: 263-269 |
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* "Laws and Lawlessness" (April 2005) — ''[[Synthese]]''., vol. 144, no. 3: 397-413 |
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* "Realism and the Conditional Analysis of Dispositions: Reply to Malzkorn" (July 2001) — ''[[The Philosophical Quarterly]]''., vol. 51, no. 204: 375-378 |
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** ''Wolfgang Malzkorn'': "Realism, Functionalism and the Conditional Analysis of Dispositions" (October 2000) — ''[[The Philosophical Quarterly]]''., vol. 50, no. 201: 452-469 |
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* "Miracles: Metaphysics and Modality" (June 2001) — ''[[Religious Studies (journal)|Religious Studies]]''., vol. 37, no.2: 191-202 |
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** ''Steve Clarke'': "Response to Mumford and another definition of miracles" (December 2003) — ''[[Religious Studies (journal)|Religious Studies]]''., vol. 39, no. 4: 459-463 |
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** ''Morgan Luck'': "In defence of Mumford's definition of a miracle" (December 2003) — ''[[Religious Studies (journal)|Religious Studies]]''., vol. 39, no. 4: 465-469 |
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** ''Steve Clarke'': "Luck and miracles" (December 2003) — ''[[Religious Studies (journal)|Religious Studies]]''., vol. 39, no. 4: 471-474 |
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* "Normative and Natural Laws" (April 2000) — ''[[Philosophy (journal)|Philosophy]]''., vol. 75, no. 292: 265-282 |
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* "Intentionality and the Physical: A New Theory of Disposition Ascription" (April 1999) — ''[[The Philosophical Quarterly]]''., vol. 49, no. 125: 215-225 |
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** ''Ullin T. Place'': "Intentionality and the Physical: A Reply to Mumford" (April 1999) — ''[[The Philosophical Quarterly]]''., vol. 49, no. 125: 225-231 |
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* "Laws of Nature Outlawed" (June 1998) — ''[[dialectica]]''., vol. 52, no. 2: 83-101 |
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* "Conditionals, Functional Essences and Martin on Dispositions" (January 1996) — ''[[The Philosophical Quarterly]]''., vol. 46, no. 182: 86-92 |
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* "Ellis and Lierse on Dispositional Essentialism" (December 1995) — ''[[Australasian Journal of Philosophy]]''., vol. 73, no.4: 606-612 |
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* "Dispositions, Bases, Overdetermination and Identities" (April 1995) — ''[[Ratio (journal)|Ratio]]''., vol. 8, iss. 1: 42-62 |
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* "Dispositions, Supervenience and Reduction" (October 1994) — ''[[The Philosophical Quarterly]]''., vol. 44, no. 177: 419-438 |
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* "Dispositions" (Summer 1994) — ''[[Cogito]]''., vol. 8: 141-146 |
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* "A Puzzle About Causation" (Autumn 1993) — ''[[Philosophy Now]]''., vol. 7: 23-30 |
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==See also== |
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===External links=== |
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* [http://www.rep.routledge.com/article/N116 Dispositions (Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy)] |
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* [http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/dispositions/ Dispositions (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy)] |
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* [http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/laws-of-nature/ Laws of Nature (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy)] |
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* [http://www.iep.utm.edu/l/lawofnat.htm Laws of Nature (Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy)] |
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* [http://www.rep.routledge.com/article/Q056 Natural Laws (Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy)] |
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* [http://www.bris.ac.uk/metaphysicsofscience/ Metaphysics of Science: Homepage] |
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===Responses and Discussion=== |
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* [http://homepage.mac.com/ancientportraits/drsite/Mumford.pdf "Critical Notice of Stephen Mumford's ''Dispositions''"] - [http://www.danryder.com/ Dan Ryder] |
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* [http://jeannicod.ccsd.cnrs.fr/docs/00/05/34/45/HTML/index.html "Dispositions and Essences"] - [http://www.institutnicod.org/notices.php?user=tiercelin Claudine Tiercelin] |
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* [http://www.phs.uoa.gr/~psillos/Publications_files/Mumford-notice.doc "Stephen Mumford's ''Laws in Nature''"] - [http://www.phs.uoa.gr/~psillos/ Stathis Psillos] |
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===Reviews=== |
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* "''Dispositions''" (May 2000) - Wolfgang Malzkorn — ''[[Erkenntnis]]''., vol. 52, no. 3: 413-418 |
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* "''Dispositions''" (January 2001) - D.M. Armstrong — ''[[Philosophy and Phenomenological Research]]''., vol. 62, no. 1: 246-248 |
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* "''Dispositions''" (January 2001) - Thomas Bittner — ''[[Philosophical Books]]''., vol. 42, no. 1: 61-65 |
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* "''Dispositions''" (January 2001) - John W. Carroll — ''[[The Philosophical Review]]''., vol. 110, no. 1: 82-84 |
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* "''Dispositions''" (January 2001) - Rainer Noske — ''[[Journal for the General Philosophy of Science]]''., vol. 32. no. 1: 193-197 |
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* "''Dispositions''" (March 2001) - Alexander Bird — ''[[British Journal for the Philosophy of Science]]''., vol. 52, no. 1: 137-149 |
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* "''Dispositions''" (March 2005) - John Hawthorne; David Manley — ''[[Noûs]]''., vol. 39, no. 1: 179-195 |
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* "''Laws in Nature''" (June 2006) - Simon Bostock — ''[[British Journal for the Philosophy of Science]]''., vol. 57, no. 2: 449-453 |
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==References== |
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{{reflist}} |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Mumford, Stephen}} |
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[[Category:20th century philosophers]] |
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[[Category:21st century philosophers]] |
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[[Category:Analytic philosophers]] |
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[[Category:British philosophers]] |
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[[Category:Alumni of the University of Huddersfield]] |
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[[Category:Alumni of the University of Leeds]] |
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[[Category:Academics of the University of Nottingham]] |
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[[Category:1965 births]] |
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[[Category:Living people]] |
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