Single Idea 16178

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

Full Idea

Where theories intersect, laws are usually hard to come by.

Gist of Idea

There are few laws for when one theory meets another

Source

Nancy Cartwright (How the Laws of Physics Lie [1983], 2.3)

Book Reference

Cartwright,Nancy: 'How the Laws of Physics Lie' [OUP 2002], p.51


A Reaction

There are attempts at so-called 'bridge laws', to get from complex theories to simple ones, but her point is well made about theories on the same 'level'.

Related Idea

Idea 16177 I disagree with the covering-law view that there is a law to cover every single case [Cartwright,N]