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Full Idea
The fact that some other diamonds are hard does not explain why this diamond is hard.
Gist of Idea
That other diamonds are hard does not explain why this one is
Source
Alexander Bird (Nature's Metaphysics [2007], 4.3.2)
Book Ref
Bird,Alexander: 'Nature's Metaphysics' [OUP 2007], p.86
A Reaction
A very nice aphorism! It pinpoints the whole error of trying to explain the behaviour of the world by citing laws. Why should this item obey that law? Bird prefers 'powers', and so do I.