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Single Idea 9420
[filed under theme 26. Natural Theory / D. Laws of Nature / 4. Regularities / b. Best system theory
]
Full Idea
Causal laws are consequences of those propositions which we should take as axioms if we knew everything and organized it as simply as possible in a deductive system.
Gist of Idea
Causal laws result from the simplest axioms of a complete deductive system
Source
Frank P. Ramsey (Law and Causality [1928], §B)
Book Ref
Ramsey,Frank: 'Philosophical Papers', ed/tr. Mellor,D.H. [CUP 1990], p.150
A Reaction
Cf. Idea 9418.
Related Idea
Idea 9418
All knowledge needs systematizing, and the axioms would be the laws of nature [Ramsey]
The
23 ideas
from Frank P. Ramsey
3750
|
"It is true that x" means no more than x
[Ramsey]
|
18818
|
Sentence meaning is given by the actions to which it would lead
[Ramsey]
|
13427
|
Either 'a = b' vacuously names the same thing, or absurdly names different things
[Ramsey]
|
13426
|
Formalists neglect content, but the logicists have focused on generalizations, and neglected form
[Ramsey]
|
13425
|
Formalism is hopeless, because it focuses on propositions and ignores concepts
[Ramsey]
|
13428
|
Reducibility: to every non-elementary function there is an equivalent elementary function
[Ramsey]
|
13430
|
Infinity: there is an infinity of distinguishable individuals
[Ramsey]
|
13334
|
Contradictions are either purely logical or mathematical, or they involved thought and language
[Ramsey]
|
22328
|
I just confront the evidence, and let it act on me
[Ramsey]
|
22325
|
A belief is knowledge if it is true, certain and obtained by a reliable process
[Ramsey]
|
19724
|
Belief is knowledge if it is true, certain, and obtained by a reliable process
[Ramsey]
|
6894
|
Mental terms can be replaced in a sentence by a variable and an existential quantifier
[Ramsey]
|
10993
|
Ramsey's Test: believe the consequent if you believe the antecedent
[Ramsey, by Read]
|
9418
|
All knowledge needs systematizing, and the axioms would be the laws of nature
[Ramsey]
|
9420
|
Causal laws result from the simplest axioms of a complete deductive system
[Ramsey]
|
14279
|
Asking 'If p, will q?' when p is uncertain, then first add p hypothetically to your knowledge
[Ramsey]
|
13766
|
'If' is the same as 'given that', so the degrees of belief should conform to probability theory
[Ramsey, by Ramsey]
|
19143
|
Ramsey gave axioms for an uncertain agent to decide their preferences
[Ramsey, by Davidson]
|
8494
|
Obviously 'Socrates is wise' and 'Socrates has wisdom' express the same fact
[Ramsey]
|
8495
|
The distinction between particulars and universals is a mistake made because of language
[Ramsey]
|
8493
|
We could make universals collections of particulars, or particulars collections of their qualities
[Ramsey]
|
6409
|
The 'simple theory of types' distinguishes levels among properties
[Ramsey, by Grayling]
|
3212
|
Beliefs are maps by which we steer
[Ramsey]
|