Single Idea 14933

[catalogued under 8. Modes of Existence / B. Properties / 5. Natural Properties]

Full Idea

For Psillos, properties in mature science are defined by the laws in which they feature.

Gist of Idea

Scientific properties are defined by the laws that embody them

Source

report of Stathis Psillos (Scientific Realism [1999]) by J Ladyman / D Ross - Every Thing Must Go 3.5

Book Reference

Ladyman,J/Ross,D: 'Every Thing Must Go' [OUP 2007], p.156


A Reaction

This is a perfect example of the Humean approach getting everything the wrong way round. Laws are not primitives from which we derive our account of nature - they are generalisations built up from the behaviour of prior properties.