On Negative Powers and On Standard Nonideal Theorists: Comments on Åsa Burman’s Nonideal Social Ontology

Abstract

This commentary on Åsa Burman’s Nonideal Social Ontology: The Power View makes a number of critical points about how power and powers are characterized in the book. For example, the idea of negative powers seems metaphysically suspect, leads to grammatical oddities, and could easily be dropped. Burman’s views on the ideal theoretical standard model of social ontology are examined, suggesting a stark difference between what makes a theory “ideal” and “standard.” The claim is put forward that theorists of “nonideal” persuasion may well share most features of the “standard” approach, and this is illustrated with Ásta’s Conferralism.