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Powers and tendencies re-visited

Fleetwood, Steve

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Abstract

Whilst powers and tendencies are amongst the most fundamental concepts of critical realism, there are several problems with these concepts that have been ignored, avoided or glossed. The purpose of this paper, therefore, is to tease out these problems and provide clarification and consistency where possible. The first part of the paper sketches the existing critical realist conceptualisation of tendencies by identifying eight distinct moments in a causal chain, denoted tendency1 to tendency8. Part two asks: Is there a difference between powers and tendencies? The answer, controversially perhaps, is: ‘No’. Part three asks: What is the difference between tendency1 and tendency2? The answer considers two possible arguments accounting for the difference, and initiates a re-think of some of the terminology used to discuss tendencies as distinct moments in a causal chain. The paper concludes by raising the possibility that tendencies or powers are not of an either/or, discrete, dichotomous or discontinuous nature, but are continuous. This raises the further possibility that powers or tendencies can come in stronger and weaker forms.

Citation

Fleetwood, S. (2011). Powers and tendencies re-visited. Journal of Critical Realism, 10(1), 80-99. https://doi.org/10.1558/jcr.v10i1.80

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Jun 1, 2009
Publication Date Jan 1, 2011
Deposit Date Sep 21, 2016
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal Journal of Critical Realism
Print ISSN 1476-7430
Publisher Taylor & Francis
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 10
Issue 1
Pages 80-99
DOI https://doi.org/10.1558/jcr.v10i1.80
Keywords critical realism, ontology, powers, tendencies, laws
Public URL https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/968222
Publisher URL http://dx.doi.org/10.1558/jcr.v10i1.80
Additional Information Additional Information : This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Journal of Critical Realism in 2011, available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1558/jcr.v10i1.80

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