dispositions

Dispositions are tendencies or arrangements to act in particular ways. In general use, the word describes a person’s temperament or mood: a cheerful disposition; a stubborn disposition. In law, disposition refers to how a case or property is resolved or allocated; for example the disposition of an estate or the court’s disposition of the matter.

In philosophy, a disposition is a dispositional property, a tendency that manifests under certain conditions. Fragility, solubility, flammability, and magnetization are classic examples: a fragile object tends to break when struck; a soluble substance dissolves in solvent. Dispositional properties are contrasted with categorical or occurrent properties, which are said to obtain irrespective of circumstance. The analysis of dispositions raises questions about how such tendencies are grounded and observed.

In psychology, dispositions refer to enduring traits or propensities to act in characteristic ways. They are used to describe personality and behavioral tendencies, while recognizing that behavior also depends on situations and contexts; the study of the weight of dispositions versus situational factors remains a central theme of attribution theory.

In law, disposition denotes the act of disposing of property or the final resolution of a case. It also describes how assets in an estate are distributed. The term is common in legal documents and court records to denote outcome and allocation rather than process.

Across contexts, “disposition” conveys a tendency, an inclination, or an arrangement; understanding its meaning requires attention to scope—temperamental character, physical predisposition, or legal decision.