Quantities
Edited by Zee R. Perry (New York University, Shanghai)
About this topic
Summary | Two characteristics distinguish quantities from non-quantitative properties and relations. First, every quantity is associated with a class of determinate “magnitudes” or “values” of that quantity, each member of which is a property or relation itself. So when a particle possesses mass or charge, it always instantiates one particular magnitude of mass or charge -- like 2.5 kilograms or 7 Coulombs. Second, the magnitudes of a given quantity (alternatively, the particulars which instantiate those magnitudes) exhibit “quantitative structure”, which comprises things like: ordering structure, summation/concatenation structure, ratio structure, directional structure, etc. We often represent quantities using similarly-structured mathematical entities, like numbers, vectors, etc. Classic debates about quantities concern attempts to give a metaphysical account of quantitative structure without appealing to mathematical entities/structures. Other questions include: How do quantities play the roles they do in measurement, the laws of nature, etc? Are a quantity's magnitudes fundamentally absolute (like 2.5 kilograms) or comparative (like twice-as-massive-as)? |
Key works | Mundy 1987 is a seminal paper in this area. Field 1980 and Field 1984 are not directly concerned with the metaphysics of quantity proper, but represent an early and very influential attempt to account for quantitative structure without relying on mathematics. The exchange between Bigelow et al 1988 and Armstrong 1988 is an influential treatment of the absolute/comparative debate in the metaphysics of quantity. |
Introductions | Eddon 2013 provides a very useful opinionated introduction. |
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Related categories
Siblings:
- Determinates and Determinables (73)
- Dispositions and Powers (1,459 | 399)
- Intrinsic and Extrinsic Properties (89)
- Natural Properties (154)
- Properties, Misc (200)
- Property Nominalism (172)
- Relations (253)
- Tropes (273)
- Universals (935)
- Essence and Essentialism (1,119)
- Measurement in Science (305)
- Mass Nouns and Count Nouns (65)
- Stuff (147)
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