Powers : a history This volume examines some of the main twists and turns in the fascinating history of the philosophical concept of powers or dispositions. It focuses on what one might call the metaphysical sense of powers that is the powers that are invoked in the explanation of natural changes and activities. The volumes chapters discuss among others the philosophical views of Anaxagoras Plato Aristotle the Stoics Plotinus Ibn Gabirol Avicenna Abelard Anselm Henry of Ghent John Duns Scotus René Descartes Nicolas Malebranche Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Margaret Cavendish Ralph Cudworth Henry More John Locke David Hume Thomas Reid Mary Shepherd Immanuel Kant Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel David Lewis David Armstrong and George Molnar. In addition the volume contains four short reflection essays that examine the concept of powers from the perspective of disciplines other than philosophy namely history of music West African religions history of chemistry and history of art