more from this thinker
|
more from this text
Single Idea 9424
[filed under theme 26. Natural Theory / D. Laws of Nature / 4. Regularities / b. Best system theory
]
Full Idea
Since the best system view is a coherence theory, the possibility could not be ruled out that a number of different systematizations of the same history might be tied for first place as equally best.
Gist of Idea
A number of systematizations might tie as the best and most coherent system
Source
comment on David Lewis (Psychophysical and theoretical identifications [1972]) by Stephen Mumford - Laws in Nature 3.5
Book Ref
Mumford,Stephen: 'Laws in Nature' [Routledge 2006], p.45
A Reaction
[Mumord cites Armstrong 1983:70] Personally I am a fan of coherence theories, and this problem doesn't bother me.
The
17 ideas
with the same theme
[laws are the simplest axioms that describe patterns]:
|
9417
|
What are the fewest propositions from which all natural uniformities could be inferred?
[Mill]
|
|
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]
|
|
9419
|
A law of nature is a general axiom of the deductive system that is best for simplicity and strength
[Lewis]
|
|
9409
|
Laws are the best axiomatization of the total history of world events or facts
[Lewis, by Mumford]
|
|
9423
|
If simplicity and strength are criteria for laws of nature, that introduces a subjective element
[Mumford on Lewis]
|
|
9424
|
A number of systematizations might tie as the best and most coherent system
[Mumford on Lewis]
|
|
9425
|
Lewis later proposed the axioms at the intersection of the best theories (which may be few)
[Mumford on Lewis]
|
|
8611
|
A law of nature is any regularity that earns inclusion in the ideal system
[Lewis]
|
|
16179
|
Good organisation may not be true, and the truth may not organise very much
[Cartwright,N]
|
|
9422
|
If the best system describes a nomological system, the laws are in nature, not in the description
[Mumford]
|
|
9421
|
The best systems theory says regularities derive from laws, rather than constituting them
[Mumford]
|
|
4796
|
Laws are sets of regularities within a simple and strong coherent system of wider regularities
[Psillos]
|
|
18854
|
The MRL view says laws are the theorems of the simplest and strongest account of the world
[Rosen]
|
|
16270
|
If laws are just regularities, then there have to be laws
[Maudlin]
|
|
6745
|
A regularity is only a law if it is part of a complete system which is simple and strong
[Bird]
|
|
6802
|
With strange enough predicates, anything could be made out to be a regularity
[Bird]
|