Combining Philosophers

Ideas for H.Putnam/P.Oppenheim, Theodore Sider and Karl Leonhard Reinhold

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2 ideas

26. Natural Theory / D. Laws of Nature / 11. Against Laws of Nature
Many of the key theories of modern physics do not appear to be 'laws' [Sider]
     Full Idea: That spacetime is 4D Lorentzian manifold, that the universe began with a singularity, and in a state of low entropy, are all central to physics, but it is a stretch to call them 'laws'. ...It has been argued that there are no laws of biology.
     From: Theodore Sider (Writing the Book of the World [2011], 03.1)
The notion of law doesn't seem to enhance physical theories [Sider]
     Full Idea: Adding the notion of law to physical theory doesn't seem to enhance its explanatory power.
     From: Theodore Sider (Writing the Book of the World [2011], 02.4)
     A reaction: I agree with his scepticism about laws, although Sider offers it as part of his scepticism about modal facts being included in explanations of actuality. Personally I like dispositions, but not laws. See the ideas of Stephen Mumford.