Single Idea 8381

[catalogued under 26. Natural Theory / D. Laws of Nature / 6. Laws as Numerical]

Full Idea

It is not in the sameness of causes and effects that the constancy of scientific law consists, but in sameness of relations. And even 'sameness of relations' is too simple a phrase; 'sameness of differential equations' is the only correct phrase.

Gist of Idea

The constancy of scientific laws rests on differential equations, not on cause and effect

Source

Bertrand Russell (On the Notion of Cause [1912], p.186)

Book Reference

Russell,Bertrand: 'Mysticism and Logic' [Unwin 1989], p.186


A Reaction

This seems to be a commitment to the regularity view, since there is nothing more to natural law than that the variables keeping obeying the equations. It also seems to be a very instrumentalist view.