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Single Idea 5391

[filed under theme 14. Science / B. Scientific Theories / 2. Aim of Science ]

Full Idea

The business of science is to find uniformities, such as the laws of motion and the law of gravitation, to which, so far as our experience extends, there are no exceptions.

Gist of Idea

Science aims to find uniformities to which (within the limits of experience) there are no exceptions

Source

Bertrand Russell (Problems of Philosophy [1912], Ch. 6)

Book Ref

Russell,Bertrand: 'The Problems of Philosophy' [OUP 1995], p.35

A Reaction

This seems nicely stated, based on the Humean 'regularity' view of scientific laws. When we discover such uniformities (such as the gravitational equation), we are still faced with the metaphysical question of their status. Necessity, or pattern?

The 15 ideas with the same theme [what science is trying to achieve, in general]:

21950 Science must clear away the idols of the mind if they are ever going to find the truth [Bacon]
18971 Theories are practical tools for progress, not answers to enigmas [James]
5391 Science aims to find uniformities to which (within the limits of experience) there are no exceptions [Russell]
3856 Good theories have empirical content, explain a lot, and are not falsified [Popper, by Newton-Smith]
17508 Science aims at truth, not at 'simplicity' [Putnam]
12669 Science aims to explain things, not just describe them [Ellis]
15225 Science investigates the nature and constitution of things or substances [Harré/Madden]
15298 We prefer the theory which explains and predicts the powers and capacities of particulars [Harré/Madden]
14917 To accept a scientific theory, we only need to believe that it is empirically adequate [Fraassen]
19007 A theory need not be true to be good; it should just be true about its physical aspects [Yablo]
7026 Science is sometimes said to classify powers, neglecting qualities [Heil]
15207 We want illuminating theories, rather than coherent theories [Le Poidevin]
14988 A theory which doesn't fit nature is unexplanatory, even if it is true [Sider]
17488 Empiricist theories are sets of laws, which give explanations and reductions [Glennan]
20736 Science has to abstract out the subjective attributes of things, focusing on what is objective [Aho]