自然类是稳定属性簇吗?

Are Natural Kinds Stable Property Clusters?

自然类本质主义与HPC理论都假定某种'基础'在自然类的认知实践中发挥关键作用,这种基础即'本质'和'因果自我平衡机制',但无论是'本质'还是'机制'都存在各自的问题。最近兴起的稳定属性簇理论(SPC)主张在定义自然类以及解释自然类的认知价值过程中放弃'本质'或'机制'等基础的作用,仅仅关注属性簇的稳定性,进而试图提供自然类的一种更具统一性的因果解释。然而,自然类的SPC理论并不能真正避免某种'基础',还会面临其他困难。通过对传统本质的倾向性解读,自然类本质主义至少在某种意义上可以与进化论相容,由此可以规避形形色色的自然类非本质主义替代理论。

Natural Kind Essentialism and HPC theory assume that some'grounds',which are essence and causal homeostatic mechanism,play crucial roles in the epistemic practice of natural kinds.But both essence and causal homeostatic mechanism have their own problems.Stable Property Clusters theory(SPC)which arises recently claims that we should abandon the role of ground(i.e.essence or mechanism etc)in defining natural kinds and explaining the epistemic value of natural kinds,while only focusing on the stability of property cluster.On the basis of that,it attempts to provide a more unified causal account of natural kinds.However,stable property cluster theory of natural kinds can’t really avoid the'ground',and it also faces other difficulties.This paper argues that with the dispositional reading of traditional essence,natural kind essentialism could be at least in some sense compatible with the theory of evolution,which can circumvent various non-essentialist alternative theories of natural kinds.