more from Nancy Cartwright

Single Idea 16170

[catalogued under 26. Natural Theory / D. Laws of Nature / 11. Against Laws of Nature]

Full Idea

To get from a detailed factual knowledge of a situation to an equation, we must prepare the description of the situation to meet the mathematical needs of the theory.

Gist of Idea

To get from facts to equations, we need a prepared descriptions suited to mathematics

Source

Nancy Cartwright (How the Laws of Physics Lie [1983], Intro)

Book Reference

Cartwright,Nancy: 'How the Laws of Physics Lie' [OUP 2002], p.15


A Reaction

She is clearly on to something here, as Galileo is blatantly wrong in his claim that the book of nature is written in mathematics. Mathematics is the best we can manage in getting a grip on the chaos.

Related Idea

Idea 3645 To understand the universe mathematics is essential [Galileo]