Volume 6, Issue 2
Institute of Philosophy, Free University of Berlin, Germany
Published： 30 December 2022 ，
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Wu Dawei.Composite Agency and Artifact Abilities[J].Journal of Human Cognition,2022,06(02):5-17.
Wu Dawei.Composite Agency and Artifact Abilities[J].Journal of Human Cognition,2022,06(02):5-17. DOI： 10.47297/wspjhcWSP2515-469901.20220602.
Since we have witnessed the rampant development of technology in recent years and worries concerning the independence of artifacts and potential antagonism between artifacts and human beings are proliferated
a philosophical investigation into the nature of artifacts is especially pressing. This essay invokes the resources from the contemporary philosophy of dispositions and abilities to provide a novel perspective of the metaphysical nature of artifact function (and hence artifacts abilities) with a special focus on the role of human beings in relation to artifacts via the process of their ability-manifestation. By introducing and discussing some interconnected issues in contemporary debates including semantic analysis
intrinsic/extrinsic distinction
and causal basis
this essay is anticipated to establish a sophisticated account of artifacts abilities
which suggests that artifacts abilities must be understood as the composite agency with human beings are an essential constituent.
DispositionAbilitiesArtifact
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