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Single Idea 15763
[filed under theme 26. Natural Theory / D. Laws of Nature / 8. Scientific Essentialism / b. Scientific necessity
]
Full Idea
My theory of properties as causal appears to have the consequence that causal laws are logically necessary, and that causal necessity is just a species of logical necessity.
Gist of Idea
If properties are causal, then causal necessity is a species of logical necessity
Source
Sydney Shoemaker (Causality and Properties [1980], §09)
Book Ref
Shoemaker,Sydney: 'Identity, Cause and Mind' [OUP 2003], p.225
A Reaction
Where he writes 'logical' necessity I would claim that he really means 'metaphysical' necessity. The point, I take it, is that given the existence of those properties, certain causal efforts must always follow from them. I agree.
The
26 ideas
with the same theme
[natural necessity deriving from essences of kinds]:
11043
|
It is not possible for fire to be cold or snow black
[Aristotle]
|
15966
|
Boyle and Locke believed corpuscular structures necessitate their powers of interaction
[Locke, by Alexander,P]
|
15984
|
The corpuscular hypothesis is the best explanation of the necessary connection and co-existence of powers
[Locke]
|
15950
|
We will only understand substance when we know the necessary connections between powers and qualities
[Locke]
|
19669
|
For Kant the laws must be necessary, because contingency would destroy representation
[Kant, by Meillassoux]
|
19672
|
Kant fails to prove the necessity of laws, because his reasoning about chance is over-ambitious
[Meillassoux on Kant]
|
8933
|
Science confronts the inner necessities of objects
[Hegel]
|
5818
|
If water is H2O in the actual world, there is no possible world where it isn't H2O
[Putnam]
|
5464
|
For essentialists, laws of nature are metaphysically necessary, being based on essences of natural kinds
[Ellis]
|
13603
|
A primary aim of science is to show the limits of the possible
[Ellis]
|
8560
|
If causal laws describe causal potentialities, the same laws govern properties in all possible worlds
[Shoemaker]
|
15763
|
If properties are causal, then causal necessity is a species of logical necessity
[Shoemaker]
|
8561
|
If a world has different causal laws, it must have different properties
[Shoemaker]
|
9387
|
The scientific discovery (if correct) that gold has atomic number 79 is a necessary truth
[Kripke]
|
17054
|
Scientific discoveries about gold are necessary truths
[Kripke]
|
17057
|
Once we've found that heat is molecular motion, then that's what it is, in all possible worlds
[Kripke]
|
15223
|
Necessary effects will follow from some general theory specifying powers and structure of a world
[Harré/Madden]
|
15241
|
Humeans say there is no necessity in causation, because denying an effect is never self-contradictory
[Harré/Madden]
|
11957
|
It is contingent which kinds and powers exist in the world
[Molnar]
|
14345
|
The necessity of an electron being an electron is conceptual, and won't ground necessary laws
[Mumford]
|
9506
|
Salt necessarily dissolves in water, because of the law which makes the existence of salt possible
[Bird]
|
19667
|
If the laws of nature are contingent, shouldn't we already have noticed it?
[Meillassoux]
|
19670
|
Why are contingent laws of nature stable?
[Meillassoux]
|
14548
|
There may be necessitation in the world, but causation does not supply it
[Mumford/Anjum]
|
16977
|
If essence is modal and laws are necessary, essentialist knowledge is found by scientists
[Tahko]
|
19038
|
Dispositional essentialism allows laws to be different, but only if the supporting properties differ
[Vetter]
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