Tropes As Character-Grounders

Abstract

There is a largely unrecognized ambiguity concerning the nature of a trope. Disambiguation throws into relief two fundamentally different conceptions of a trope and provides two ways to understand and develop each metaphysical theory that puts tropes to use. In this paper I consider the relative merits that result from differences concerning a trope's ability to ground the character of ordinary objects. I argue that, on each conception of a trope, there are unique implications and challenges concerning character-grounding.

Powerful Substances Because of Powerless Powers

“…There is a similarity, as Garcia has noted in his extensive work on this topic between character grounding by non-self-exemplifying properties and truth making (2016: 501). Truth making is irreflexive.…”

“…While Garcia focuses exclusively on tropes, I extend this to other candidates for properties as well, such as the property instances of universals. See Garcia 2015; 2016. )…”

“…In this case, S confers a character on O but S does not confer its own character on O . That is, while S confers a character on O that is somehow grounded in S , S does not itself have the character it grounds in O (Garcia 2016: 500). On the other hand, if S is a self-exemplifying property, then O is spherical because of S , which itself is spherical.…”

“…What's key here is the difference between how non-self-exemplifying versus self-exemplifying properties confer character on their bearers. Non-self-exemplifying properties, while having formal and functional character (for example, being a property, being self-identical, being a sphere-maker), are not themselves charactered by the character they confer on their bearers (Garcia 2016: 501). So a non-self-exemplifying property of sphericity is not itself spherical shaped.…”

Partial Resemblance and Property Immanence

“…(I would say that the portions are the properties, but one could say that the portions are rather the result of properties. See Garcia for relevant discussion.) But, the objection goes, portions cause trouble.…”