On Negative and Disjunctive Properties

Abstract

The paper is a defense of negative and disjunctive properties against the criticism of D M Armstrong in part II of "Universals and Scientific Realism". Given a mereology of properties (properties which are parts of properties) there must be negative and disjunctive properties. Moreover, negations of properties can be causally efficacious, and disjunctions of properties can be identical in different particular; they fulfill Armstrong's own criteria for propertyhood; Hence they are properties in his sense.