In Defence of a Relational Ontology of Affordances

Kiverstein, Julian

Volume 15 · Number 3 · Pages 226–229

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In Defence of a Relational Ontology of Affordances

Julian Kiverstein

Abstract

Open peer commentary on the article “Précis of The Philosophy of Affordances” by Manuel Heras-Escribano. Abstract: My commentary takes up the two issues Heras-Escribano focusses on in the precis of his book: the ontology and normativity of affordances. The dispositional account of affordances Heras-Escribano endorses is standardly taken to be in opposition to a relational ontology. I first set out to identify what is at issue in this debate. Second, I evaluate the considerations Heras-Escribano takes to favour a dispositional theory of affordances. I argue they are not decisive. Finally, I turn to the issue of the normativity of affordances. I argue against Heras-Escribano’s ontological separation of the normative from the nomological.

Handling Editor: Alexander Riegler

Citation

Kiverstein J. (2020) In defence of a relational ontology of affordances. Constructivist Foundations 15(3): 226–229. https://constructivist.info/15/3/226

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