Single Idea 18733

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

Full Idea

The laws of nature are not outside phenomena. They are part of language and of our way of describing things; you cannot discuss them apart from their physical manifestation.

Gist of Idea

Laws of nature are an aspect of the phenomena, and are just our mode of description

Source

Ludwig Wittgenstein (Lectures 1930-32 (student notes) [1931], C V C)

Book Reference

Wittgenstein,Ludwig: 'Lectures in Cambridge 1930-32', ed/tr. Lee,Desmond [Blackwell 1980], p.79


A Reaction

I suppose this amounts to a Humean regularity theory - that the descriptions pick out patterns in the manifestations. I like the initial claim that they are not external to phenomena.