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Single Idea 15005
[filed under theme 14. Science / D. Explanation / 1. Explanation / a. Explanation
]
Full Idea
Explanations must cite generalisations.
Gist of Idea
Explanations must cite generalisations
Source
Theodore Sider (Writing the Book of the World [2011], 07.13)
Book Ref
Sider,Theodore: 'Writing the Book of the World' [OUP 2011], p.139
A Reaction
I'm uneasy about this. Presumably some events have a unique explanation - a unique mechanism, perhaps. Language is inescapably general in its nature - which I take to be Aristotle's reason for agreeing the Sider. [Sider adds mechanisms on p.159]
The
49 ideas
from 'Writing the Book of the World'
14977
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Metaphysics is not about what exists or is true or essential; it is about the structure of reality
[Sider]
|
14978
|
A property is intrinsic if an object alone in the world can instantiate it
[Sider]
|
14980
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There is a real issue over what is the 'correct' logic
[Sider]
|
14981
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Philosophical concepts are rarely defined, and are not understood by means of definitions
[Sider]
|
14982
|
If I used Ramsey sentences to eliminate fundamentality from my theory, that would be a real loss
[Sider]
|
14983
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Accept the ontology of your best theory - and also that it carves nature at the joints
[Sider]
|
14984
|
Which should be primitive in mereology - part, or overlap?
[Sider]
|
14985
|
The notion of law doesn't seem to enhance physical theories
[Sider]
|
14986
|
Conceptual analysts trust particular intuitions much more than general ones
[Sider]
|
14987
|
Many of the key theories of modern physics do not appear to be 'laws'
[Sider]
|
14988
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A theory which doesn't fit nature is unexplanatory, even if it is true
[Sider]
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14989
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Problem predicates in induction don't reflect the structure of nature
[Sider]
|
14990
|
Bayes produces weird results if the prior probabilities are bizarre
[Sider]
|
14991
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Space has real betweenness and congruence structure (though it is not the Euclidean concepts)
[Sider]
|
14992
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We don't care about plain truth, but truth in joint-carving terms
[Sider]
|
14994
|
Extreme doubts about metaphysics also threaten to undermine the science of unobservables
[Sider]
|
14995
|
Predicates can be 'sparse' if there is a universal, or if there is a natural property or relation
[Sider]
|
14997
|
Two applications of 'grue' do not guarantee a similarity between two things
[Sider]
|
14999
|
Prior to conventions, not all green things were green?
[Sider]
|
14998
|
Conventions are contingent and analytic truths are necessary, so that isn't their explanation
[Sider]
|
15000
|
'It is raining' and 'it is not raining' can't be legislated, so we can't legislate 'p or ¬p'
[Sider]
|
15001
|
'Tonk' is supposed to follow the elimination and introduction rules, but it can't be so interpreted
[Sider]
|
15004
|
'Gunk' is an object in which proper parts all endlessly have further proper parts
[Sider]
|
15005
|
Explanations must cite generalisations
[Sider]
|
15003
|
It seems unlikely that the way we speak will give insights into the universe
[Sider]
|
15008
|
Is fundamentality in whole propositions (and holistic), or in concepts (and atomic)?
[Sider]
|
15009
|
We must distinguish 'concrete' from 'abstract' and necessary states of affairs.
[Sider]
|
15010
|
Your metaphysics is 'cheating' if your ontology won't support the beliefs you accept
[Sider]
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15012
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Orthodox truthmaker theories make entities fundamental, but that is poor for explanation
[Sider]
|
15011
|
If the ultimate explanation is a list of entities, no laws, patterns or mechanisms can be cited
[Sider]
|
15013
|
Tables and chairs have fundamental existence, but not fundamental natures
[Sider]
|
15017
|
Supervenience is a modal connection
[Sider]
|
15014
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Unlike things, stuff obeys unrestricted composition and mereological essentialism
[Sider]
|
15016
|
Analyticity has lost its traditional role, which relied on truth by convention
[Sider]
|
15015
|
It seems possible for a correct definition to be factually incorrect, as in defining 'contact'
[Sider]
|
15019
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Define logical constants by role in proofs, or as fixed in meaning, or as topic-neutral
[Sider]
|
15020
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Classical logic is good for mathematics and science, but less good for natural language
[Sider]
|
15021
|
The central question in the philosophy of time is: How alike are time and space?
[Sider]
|
15023
|
The Barcan schema implies if X might have fathered something, there is something X might have fathered
[Sider]
|
15024
|
The spotlight theorists accepts eternal time, but with a spotlight of the present moving across it
[Sider]
|
15025
|
The world does not contain necessity and possibility - merely how things are
[Sider]
|
15027
|
If truths are necessary 'by convention', that seems to make them contingent
[Sider]
|
15028
|
Conventionalism doesn't seem to apply to examples of the necessary a posteriori
[Sider]
|
15026
|
Essence (even if nonmodal) is not fundamental in metaphysics
[Sider]
|
15033
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Humeans says mathematics and logic are necessary because that is how our concept of necessity works
[Sider]
|
15030
|
Humeans say that we decide what is necessary
[Sider]
|
15029
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Modal accounts of logical consequence are simple necessity, or essential use of logical words
[Sider]
|
15031
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Modal terms in English are entirely contextual, with no modality outside the language
[Sider]
|
15018
|
Intentionality is too superficial to appear in the catalogue of ultimate physics
[Sider]
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