Single Idea 6746

[catalogued under 26. Natural Theory / D. Laws of Nature / 4. Regularities / a. Regularity theory]

Full Idea

It might be that there is a large number of laws each of which has only a small number of instances.

Gist of Idea

There may be many laws, each with only a few instances

Source

Alexander Bird (Philosophy of Science [1998], Ch.1)

Book Reference

Bird,Alexander: 'Philosophy of Science' [UCL Press 2000], p.43


A Reaction

This is a problem for the Ramsey-Lewis view (Idea 6745) that the laws of nature are a simple, powerful and coherent system. We must be cautious about bringing a priori principles like Ockham's Razor (Idea 3667) to bear on the laws of nature.

Related Ideas

Idea 6745 A regularity is only a law if it is part of a complete system which is simple and strong [Bird]