SO es THE JOURNAL OF PHILOSOPHY Purpose To publish philosophical rs of erent interest and encourage the interchange fies, xpecaly the exploraon of {he borden heweenpilsply and eer discipline. ‘io: Dai Alber, Berar Heresy, Ake gra, Jn Calin Antr C Dana. jon Etter, Ken Green, Pac ithe, Philp Kicher, Chiles Lamore, base Les, Wolfng Mann Frederick: Nevhouse, Chisoplier Peaack, Cal Rorane, ‘Adil Var Kaa Vogt Cin ir: ane Higginbotham, Robert May hares D anon Daniel Rosh, Toy Seen (Ga Shee Wied Sieg Monagig tr Abs Tn "nik JOURNAL oF FlLanor ie une and babe By the Journal aC Pilosp, toes. Abel Bram Vr Peg, Meta Manne Sot ara Ging. Ate ‘ter Tre Lae Bolinger, Legh S Cama Art. Dat Kent Geena Ly Nett, Dail Shap {= Sheini Ngo sonnet una sh roca omer THE JOURNAL OF PHILOSOPHY 2012 SUBSCRIPTIONS (12 issues) Indvidls 90.00 ibrar sad tition sts0.00 irae and lstatons (rin and online) sen. Stes, retire/unemploed pileopher ‘S000 Postage ouside the US. 2000 Penne nin US. cute 004 IS bak AI bah ome nd sues ei tc ok lenge ng bie sony of any 157; patty Darna Jou ‘Seren Wau py The Sen Po Hake {umes War uss anager Mal Ce 7130 Rueda ‘rs, Corbi Ue Ne rk RY He. 21) B66 ‘Mc pied frag ef ‘atypia er i a ijn ea yo Tepes 00 pa thy exe eye, {BSS he tee a THE JOURNAL OF PHILOSOPHY ‘VOLUME CIX, NO. 12, DECEMBER 2012 (GROUNDING: TOWARD A THEORY OF THE TINVIRTUE-OF RELATION’ op pla in virtue off biquitous i philosophy, Neary fer ar the proteaons that it poor ndesiood nin need of claricaon Far les common are stained pls to clack this phrase andl ts phloophial signfcance ‘ES ec tn ib eo ee Seno wove wee ee ‘Sia he etapa yo TL le tot cy fe dis ao oem th ‘Gop but nee ki fg Raed uc arn be ‘ei ont onan Pt Kee, tpn wee. Do ign, shade oud Sues Lape Ce ne Map a a ‘Ria wie meg i ee Eee cens St ere ese ee ee eran Se SE he oe amen cata 37-4 Cea, Eon nto eC (enh 3 Brea eer a ie rao ‘Soa Re oid artic pepe comsaxsatmie-rt 201 The Jao gy.a6 ‘hr Joorsat oF mosomey 1 props that texpremes primitive, noncauslrelaon of dete Inination, which ¥eall grounding Although my understanding of ‘rounding Ths ell wk many of the mow nesting ad portant {es ofthe pe in vtne of (and relate oto) ace ‘sot pel descrip: my cla tha we should vient cu se ofthe paseo achieve the bet theoreti ret. [My special it age that we mit recognize grounding a a iinet elation of determination, and to th ch pet son 's poste what grounding anew the concept ca be wnt Philosophy One of my asumptone i that there are certain om Findanental ropes, propertin dat are neers ete, talus Beaute some oder properin are. It is in mang sense the fee of his Deas that grounding earn hep wl sie that there are normative property, semantic propeticy este propery, determinable ad dispenions and thar none of these ‘Sinsantned brute. The meson ronning, sn be noted, des notte depend on ssunpuons about dese proper in pt ‘ine My argument could in principle be made stem of ocr proper, provided that there are noncasal explanations of hy ‘hose peopere are ita Bi these ae the main case hat Wise to tmotate the particule rong at de here "ake growing ota ret Between fc ete sone: things oF Some things having properties o standing i rlatons Facts jo understood ate notre proportions bt the ining ts ‘fats hat are the “uthraken” of tra prpostins, Ll ie he ation (pt tad fo ‘he fet hat [Pa town fot at that ae and a0 forth, Face ae paras and ae india ‘by ther wordy consents (objet, propre relaons) andthe ‘manner of ther combination. Ae sch, exes fact are Tele nal trangarene Ifthe meter i he jumper and the proper ft being ved the propeny of having rellectance proper then Tee seater i el the tame facts the jumper has PI 1 wl fen rele wo fart a the fact that. a ithe fact hat aie E founds the fae hat x G Bat Take ita e's being Fala Picks out the ft that a iF though not under the gue of fat SS Teonsiderexpesions tke “a ting grounds a hing 0 be eqalent othe coereaie fermulons exp inter at (donot regard facta fundamental ets, ft thi nese to my theory of grounding?) ‘ecame Take face ot spon) Sota Tha so Sy te 3 eng the ena tl ke as cso es ‘exousne oor My view shat Pin vite of ding iso be unersond as tue jus in case there are fet, (Pa) and (Cal, sch hat [a] rounds [Fo]. So grounding i relation between faci. Tht i Sometimes called the prediction view of grounding, beehise i onsinues "ground as relaonal predicate where the relate are fact! Talo take the nares of properties to fx wht grounding ‘elation hold, That, the nature of 3 ghen face—in paren, What properties (or relations) i nvoes—t what render it ie thle, or tnsable, to stand In grounding relations with various “ther face ¥ wl dco this detail beam, Bat before sng tore about what grounding b, something mast be said about hy is ecensry to countenance grounding Insite ofthe it that se you, ae a reason to eleve that you stand before me. In virtue af being spherical, dhs al sped fell down inclined planes In vite certain cl pe heloga, tn ets fies aot Enh Speaker, te sentence re ret ‘xpress ia English he fat that gree gen, Each case presets an ‘explanation In the fest ese, ny possesion of a ean explained ty appeal tomy experiences Inthe second, dsprtion ofthe all isexplained by appeal to one of categorical properties. the thi a semantic fact explained y appeal certain sci: poy Toga, and casabhstoial em "Now, the explanations above are not causal explanations. The facts involved in them do not stan in cus elstons wih one nother. My visal experience doe no case me 40 hive eu for beet The tls spheric doesnot eae it hae the dion tion to rll Ad the fact that Engh speakers ae certain bh, conform to certain conventions and have cetin casa isto Nis gram doesnot cae gai geen to mean what it doc For one thing. in each eae the relation betwen the pied fc ‘scm to intinate to e a ual relation the at are Bo nly Aisint i the nay easton appre request ela to be Ite ecognze these cies gerne explanations and we nee that expat equite nonexpanatory relatos under her ‘omecttes then we are commie to regi ones ato nt pnt 1 dyn ne cps be poe in i yar Geng. ‘ito to shety waa se Sen ‘ga sen cs web "Reon ea nn serene "lexs "ru joursas or enmLonorny 2 work in these explanations Like caution, the telaion will be ‘one of ereminaion roughly of making, of Iigngaled o of tein pons or eve the argument made expe {00 at xan ant oe len ein (2) Tere eapanatos nich he expning at pln nan sitchen apt “The Fist premise expresses the relist tance toward explanation that Lasnme here The second supported by examples ike thine fen above (and others toe gien Below) The relevant none elation, of course, what Teal grounding ‘Naw the conclusion of the abot agument ita dere sat est ‘ne nancial elation of determination Perap there esmove than ‘me, bate hat Inthe ene tis there ingle relation ff determination at work. We eam doa ie better tha to regard this 3 plsile default sumption (hough T thik cone), I all the televant examples conform tothe theory set forth ood prima facie evidence that there isa single relation at work (kcahe very leas, the theory descebes a impor fai of la sions) Now, Ki Fine, for example, Holds that where he all re invirwe ot being maroon, we hive mela! Seterminin, bat where the ac js wrong in vie of being» le we have omade "etrmiaton.* Oa my vw, there to compli reason to Din ofthese as ierent hinds of determination opened imp "any eiferent cases involving the sme sort of determination, In bh cases the fat that one property instantiated obtains In sire of the Tat that another propery I instante jt hap ‘ens that one case Insoles» normatne propery. ice io reas 8 10 think thatthe way ommave properties ate yrnanded Soe eee ee a ee Se eee a eee Sit ht oe ae eee coxovnne oo ner proper ders rom he mays, determina ae rounded in dermite ‘Suppne for a moment, tht in the various purported eases of rounding thee are diferent specie retin t wrk ones the {of determinate, one nthe norman tse, ands oth sen 2 the theory presented here would characterize te gem sch "hese pees flange maybe frmaly opel ha he sr Sex among the cases are pare coieldece ht they arene pete of er all But think hve ches planeta ft appcen. Consider: eat cae lnvlesnonctal explnaton, ‘eh appears metaphyscaly neces ach nv the sana ‘ion of one property making another propery to be isanbated the rele ropes in each cane eet Be esenay eee ‘shone athe, Sach pease silty among such ee sas Jt mates erie ot for explanation propose that wba ao tthe ny sith here ae aon wk re the view dat theve i only generic smi, shat ehere fe diferent species of none determination at work in ach ‘ase, ses me as undersnshated. What dierent especies Iie only hat one cancers normale proper smathet ete Inna, si another aapeniony, ths doesnt ge 2 reson to think hat hw te domain wets les in eh ce spy cca relate diferent hinds office S0 1 tae Ue bute of proof tobe on those who think there ae diferent relations ‘ork to show wy, to show in what way the determination fers in the diferent canes I wl proceed then, on the samp th ‘here i just one nonchsal Germination Felaon at ek the eleant examples" What are the relevant examples? They fll ino a number of group The Noma Snes are wong in ite o bein Ke Agents have reasons (prac and epistemic) vue of espe ‘ces: He ain round a eson to sop running Hs propio ‘experience rounds a reaon to ble tht heb upside don The Dasa The bali dpsed to voll in ite of being sper ‘The wire has the power tn cont eleccy in rae of beg ppt. The Darina The shit sed nite of beng maroon ‘he br has maw in vireo having 4m of 20h Te Smet “Gros ree? means in Engh hat gr green eo he ames a sn aS Hat Honea0 “ne JooRsAL oF rm.oxon Pacha states, nguiecomentons, nd casa itor af ce bin speakers The Ate The tse al invite of ps Properties nich ae shape, color, and texture. The Matemata {Team ply a ceria role im Geel numbering in rte of ing Prine 3 the icemor of the sucemor of aru of the et that ede sieceworof 2 and 2 the mccenor of [Other appeal to further example x weil many of whic (sch loge examples iu rthmabing)T do nt regard as genuine examples of rnd. ing! (Some of my eaons fr denying hone ese wl emerge ow ined ttn) Bat se ape tie 0 “This section ays out the general notion of domination, of which Take grounding to be an important kind. Another important, though very ferent, kind of determination i of eaure cae tion. The features dincumed here are shared by grounding and Sao, eg werent romding nto in (For one thing to determine another forthe Brat brig aout oc te mone forthe second. Examples inhade somethings high Temperature binging about Is combustion of someting’ psa ‘roperies beng responaibe for ke beauty du that the on ‘of determination canbe defined: Lamune here that ke a pine ‘ton (but one we inte understand quite wel, pared i {es fcasiton) In anher we ‘determine’ meas somerhing ke {firs ssi value funtion, Tor example, canbe mi o determine Sales gen arguments. But clearly negation ds noting aout ‘beth fate hon opering ona propo. Fhe (a) Determination i rely related to explanation. One impor tant way to explain someting isto anmer the cin af I ‘ccurs oF ua. One way answer the why question wil be 10 fe what determines the fc 1 be explained, This obious i {he cise of eas explanation, where an event ocuring may Be “A Creat so ene the Nn of rng Cares od Shade, ica or fo he cin an ‘phe owe oma i pre ‘pom cnen gracing couxoine on xpined by appeal tis ase” It may even be the ese that for ferain kind ofexplanation—the kind Ua face eleentaly trangarent and inteestindependent—a reli of derination 3 ‘acer ae slficient for an explanation "Fie x, determination isnot explanation. A hare explanatory concept such a ene uli ‘ent to expres an explanatory connection fetes facts (or ser ‘candace expananda and explana). Bui the bare explnator ‘once wil dlr from any elton of detention atest in bin lem specie. Fay, heeae’ canbe sed when no cl rel underiesthe explanation (for example, thie wrong beat i tn) Bp the same token, "ben can be ued by someone who ‘des nt Rave the concept 2 cauaton at all To appre that a ‘explanation obtains, one need not know the specie mechani heey soi (i) Determination i wordy 8 opposed to conc, fae ‘heer two things sd in a relation of detention does ot Aepend on how we conceive them. For example, the fact tat bi Ingestion of the leping pil cased hin wo fl alee ino wy depends on how we conceive of the case, or whether we tink of ‘cat all. Similar i ving really i 4 wrongemaking propery then the fct that her act was he (wih no her moval eleva ea tures} made her at wrong, no tater how we Tega sig o,f ‘hot mater wromgmaking. One might worry that te simpy fase ‘hat ‘his taking blu pl ated hi to fall asleep, ever i the sleeping pill wae Biv But noe that this dors ot mean these {hing asthe pl caused him co all aeep note of ing le’ The ter wold any norma cave, be Ease Bat the former might wel be tue, seating or inka (determination wordy Ad one vay to exp senting ito ay what decree {here iat least one hind of explanation thats worldly as wel) Ih) Determination s sfx Metaphysics speaking, there 's nothing property called sel-determination. Pua cases iavahe eterno Between dierent fas eves, prs, of enor sages Sipura esom "ujovw. oF mtoserny ‘€or about a single parte. I mone mysel, o be sre, ba ony ty event in one part fe casing eens fn athe, (9) Determination i aspmaeThere cam be mo pair sch that ‘ach ca determinant ofthe oer. To be are, there a tse who think of caution av reclpral mater consisting in he muta aniston of thingy powers to interac thre anther" I mistake, they sa. to thnk that when sl x iumersed in water nd soles, the wate isthe agent an the sate pent. Thre ‘Sasngle interacton—cl it dinette daw ey Gn he pes Beth parr hn hen me a ‘mutual maniestaton i ot a determination rlation Tees 10 te tha this wiew precisely dois that water mahes sak dole or that ‘altmakes water saturated Cation, undersiod as ayemetia nay tl belong in thie tre, homer, But sea being a ela tio beeen the ater nd the alt relation beter the cent ‘ofthe coming gether and the adeno thet mata nteracton. (3) Determinations singurelation n the see that rele sion hecoeen parle (uch ar event rs fas) Caaton, for example, the telaon between your Dipping the els Tights coming on. Is nota relation between switch ping and imination in general Singular retaione of determination ight rertheles depend on relaoas beeen wera ave of ate, for example) ut the determination relations themselves would sil be relations between particular towtances of tho universal {ar properties are ropes, then of course determination can hold betieen topes compas with ingularvm.) A uaieral nether ‘brings about nor responsible frat er nines, Universal ‘hemes, considered spare rom thei hanations are onteally ‘ona pa. Although the fact that a given thing ie maroom might explain why its Fed, maroonness docs not expla why there 8 9 propery of being ved ory that property ia take hs pit fe generalize to ll proper, (s) Determination is important ailferent fom dependence Determination can occu wthou dependence, ted by ass ‘of onerdetsminaton each tw sian dep eee In te fal gl then is oesowing dows os depend on eter of ‘ur actions, though each count ving bought it abn” These "cincpin o Mi e tment a inon el “mn an ano, Pe as Ca ae pay ‘i Mert Wain ‘uc ne hee Comps fer an nt nee Ws, ‘may of couse be interenting relations we can chart etween the notions of determination and dependence. Butte ate 50 Staghorcardy elated a seme have thong" [si Determination atte I ne hing determine another, thes both infact obtain or occa If his drunken confemion came the vk lence, then he i fet deen confess there I fac followed an aad lence. ix) Determination i nomanooic in the sense tht it doce not follow ftom xs determining y that x and = wether determine) {even fr some asumed comple with + and) Suppose) beng all causes me 1 hi my ead Woes not oe oh rae would not be Wue—that being tall and baying Backs ‘use me to hit my head. Having ek aie would a any noema ‘ee be cal rela omy hing ay head dsc tea father seen 16.) “There an important link betwen grounding and the nates of properties 1 ake grounding to be a sngule relation betwee ct, ‘but seems to me tat grounding eatin dint wn a fais rom the natures ofthe properties inwoved ia Wese fc. For example ‘he fc hat my hie maroon gon he fact tac te es rey incidental to th relation which part hae the propeti fe quenion. Nothing pec omy shit inluencs the wy in which Ahexe properties mane ther nates Anshing maroon re ad Inded anything maroon ire in tuo Beng toon. So ses that tis the natures of thew properties the are responsible forthe ‘sounding relation’ ebsining. That the grounding ream Bee [the shit maroon] an (the sir real ser 1 aoe om an {ist om, the natures of maconne ad sede Tm this way, grounding scnstve vo dhe nares ft eat (So sounding dimeric opposed vo casaon as Humeans under Stand it) Iisa neces comtion of one fas grounding ander sein “Owrrnng aes Pes Sa ae sa Com aeons ‘apy ol Phong!on “Tr jouw ov sratznonny ‘hat de nates of the properties inohed be reed o one anher in yome signin way. We ca al this etation sia onc rms abet T deliberately ave unspeci” Without sing precy wat esa connectedness amount to ie clear tht some Pal 1a properties al wo be esenaly connected nthe rege! 40 that simon them cans posi standin rete grou ing oth one anaer It metaphysical ine tht somthing bere in vine of being Tod moral wrong inte of ing pain. prime in vr of hing a mas of 10k. The prope fn thee pare simply oo dpa Teint seem, the tha we Can se the notion of extent com rectednes 1 explsin what grounds what. The fllowing principle ‘sina aura: he Tact ha any glen grounding relatos hols Sie grounded i theft atthe properties ncn at ae ese thy connected to the properties the ar But hs pinche faces | number of dicate Start wih ome roading fate (4 (ate maroon) grows ne. “The principle quite that thi ft be grounded in the ft dat he ropes in cach fet are ewentlly connec, Soe hive (©) 18eimaoonnes eae) gd ison] nel ‘a now the principle request (5) be grounded in a essa ‘connection ft, one coanecing the proper the grin at {in this ease, set about esential conection) with te i the rounded as in hia, he storder growing fe), We te Ate face the teat frees and a preration of erated fe shout eset connection, Note hit it wold td oy tha the {sen onnecton of marnonnes to rede grounds the vey at that such esentl connection ground the fstorder grounding Fac That would noe dot sy that (© t8C¢matcoane roe ie he ground of. (@)18Cimroonnes ae] gon ion ond ich rere acy ed a is cence cet a i na eee mg becca esd i a ere eno oan einer gee msc) otc ok Poe dee Mckee po Sy sora or then we would havea fet growing i on aii eo ground further fas ven if ths sno imately alton of telex. itcanor do the work we set ou to accom!” The principle wih hich we Began was motatd by the We hat we can aay lin why agen grounding fact hols by appeal some new fact Bat iF fat grounds any of Is cnn grouting bits, then at eas some grounding relations must go unexplained. The problem Clearer nthe eave ofthe fistorder rounding Fat. Suppose me ‘si hat xis aroon] grounds [sed jst aree othe at ha {ris maroon. Plainly thik wuld fal ts explain ty [xs maroon] rounds [si ed sce mo reason why th would ier whem he Sppei isto an exentaconerton fact My ees that we should not hold ot for an explanation of every rounding fact, ain parila, we shoud nat expert exer gon {ng fet wo be round. even in fact about essential connection So'hen how should we characterize the relation between grounding ane eel egnmecon? The ft that soe rounding fats ae ot ‘spain. propers speatng, dors no ental that there ees Ing metphiateal connection bensen certain grownding fact ad the esentileonnecions betwen the proper thin acts concer, Itwe uke cate to distinguish beneen (a fae being grounded Dy something and (b) a fee's being 3 prt of, oF manifestation of the esence of tha thing then we cam characterize eset con nection a lls is the naar of certain properties tha hee Instances should sund in grounding relaone” For example, when given Instance of maroonnes grounds + eaimsdentineance ese, this Tet manifest the natures of the seen properties. 1s parcof their esence wo behave i his way hen Invannted ‘This nt 1 ge an explanation ol wy the relevant face and ja rounding ration, and indeed there sayeth an expan ‘in, property 0 allo, The point of this characterization i py to char an important relation hetwce the eens of proper ‘ne the grounding relations that obtain among their instances” “This may sound albtrse, but the idea is simple and should be tania Compare sping tha es in the nature of ing sare sane phy snd eww a igre icdo te no ig eat of wig. ce Pe. “Om spel pence ef Ran 8 “ee a ior mnie ext ma se