ABSTRACT
This chapter exploits the fact that ascriptions of dispositions are actions. It lists some examples of disposition ascriptions, which give an impression about who performs such actions and about the variety of different kinds of disposition ascriptions. The chapter answers the questions why, how and when to ascribe dispositions. It shows that disposition ascriptions to individual substances are more basic in metaphysical, logical and epistemological respect. The chapter gives reasons against the theory of disposition predicates proposed by E. J. Lowe, 'Dispositions and Laws', Metaphysica, who tries to reduce disposition ascriptions to concrete particulars to ascriptions of manifestation predicates to universals. It discusses the simple case of ascribing surefire dispositions to individuals and turn to the other cases. Disposition ascriptions occur both in daily life and in scientific contexts. Communicational success about disposition ascriptions is possible, because the context of utterance supplies the information necessary for disposition ascriptions that are thought to give action-related information.
