Three theses about dispositions

Abstract

questions. First, is it a necessary truth that disposi? tions have causal bases; or is it only a contingent truth for dispositions like fragility, while being perhaps a contingent falsehood for dispositions like that to radioactive decay? Secondly, are these bases distinct from or identical with their cor? responding dispositions? And, finally, if they are distinct, what causes the display of a disposition? Is it the causal basis of fragility, or fragility itself, or the two together, which causes the glass to break on dropping?