Single Idea 14383

[catalogued under 26. Natural Theory / D. Laws of Nature / 11. Against Laws of Nature]

Full Idea

By 'law of nature' or 'natural law' I mean a generalization describing a regularity, not some metaphysical entity that produces or is responsible for that regularity.

Gist of Idea

A 'law of nature' is just a regularity, not some entity that causes the regularity

Source

Bert Leuridan (Can Mechanisms Replace Laws of Nature? [2010], §1 n1)

Book Reference

-: 'Philosophy of Science' [-], p.2


A Reaction

I take the second version to be a relic of a religious world view, and having no place in a naturalistic metaphysic. The regularity view is then the only player in the field, and the question is, can we do more? Can't we explain regularities?