Single Idea 9433

[catalogued under 26. Natural Theory / D. Laws of Nature / 5. Laws from Universals]

Full Idea

If there are laws that are instantiated in no particulars, then this would seem to favour the theory that laws connect universals rather than particulars.

Gist of Idea

If laws can be uninstantiated, this favours the view of them as connecting universals

Source

Stephen Mumford (Laws in Nature [2004], 06.4)

Book Reference

Mumford,Stephen: 'Laws in Nature' [Routledge 2006], p.90


A Reaction

There is a dispute here between the Platonic view of uninstantiated universals (Tooley) and the Aristotelian instantiated view (Armstrong). Mumford and I prefer the dispositional account.