B2: Properties and Property Individuation

B2的目的是发展一种关于属性的形而上学理论，能够解释在科学背景下属性是如何被理解和个性化的。有没有少数基本的或真正的财产是所有其他财产叠加在上面的呢？在什么条件下，我们有权得出某些性质P与某些性质Q相同的结论？我们对属性的理解对我们对其他形而上学重要概念的理解有至关重要的影响，特别是关于自然形态的概念，如自然法则、因果关系和如何构思必要联系的问题。B2从这样一个假设出发，即什么是真正的财产以及如何使财产个性化的问题可以而且应该从以科学为导向的角度来处理。根据许多科学理论，有些性质被认为比其他性质更基本。此外，人们普遍认为，至少某些性质的恒等式，如水=水或热=分子运动，只能在经验的基础上建立，这似乎意味着性质个别化的因果标准。特别是，将调查是否只有属于某些类别的财产(如较低级别或确定的财产)才有资格成为真正的财产，什么因果关系概念最适合支持财产个别化的因果标准，以及这种标准是否可以解释财产之间的超内涵差异。

The aim of B2 is to develop a metaphysical theory of properties capable of explaining how properties are understood and individuated in scientific contexts. Is there a minority class of fundamental or genuine properties upon which all other properties supervene? Under what conditions are we entitled to conclude that some property P is identical with some property Q? Our understanding of properties has a crucial impact on our understanding of other metaphysically important notions, in particular notions that concern natural modalities, such as laws of nature, causation and the question how to conceive of necessary connections. B2 starts from the assumption that the questions what genuine properties there are and how properties are to be individuated can and should be tackled from a science-oriented perspective. According to many scientific theories, some properties are considered more fundamental than others. Moreover, it is widely agreed that at least some property identities, such as water = H2O or heat = molecular motion, can only be established on an empirical basis, and this plausibly implies a causal criterion of property individuation.B2 seeks to defend this approach against challenges arising from the recent metaphysical debate on properties. In particular, it will be investigated whether only properties belonging to certain categories (such as lower-level or determinate properties) qualify as genuine, what concept of causation is best-suited to back a causal criterion of property individuation and whether such a criterion can account for hyperintensional differences among properties.