Single Idea 6781

[catalogued under 26. Natural Theory / D. Laws of Nature / 2. Types of Laws]

Full Idea

Nancy Cartwright distinguishes between 'fundamental explanatory laws', which we should not believe, and 'phenomenological laws', which are regularities established on the basis of observation.

Gist of Idea

There are fundamental explanatory laws (false!), and phenomenological laws (regularities)

Source

report of Nancy Cartwright (How the Laws of Physics Lie [1983]) by Alexander Bird - Philosophy of Science Ch.4

Book Reference

Bird,Alexander: 'Philosophy of Science' [UCL Press 2000], p.139


A Reaction

The distinction is helpful, so that we can be clearer about what everyone is claiming. We can probably all agree on the phenomenological laws, which are epistemological. Personally I claim truth for the best fundamental explanatory laws.