Ideas from 'Psychophysical and theoretical identifications' by David Lewis [1972], by Theme Structure
[found in 'Papers in Metaphysics and Epistemology' by Lewis,David [CUP 1999,0-521-58787-5]].
green numbers give full details |
back to texts
|
unexpand these ideas
26. Natural Theory / D. Laws of Nature / 4. Regularities / b. Best system theory
9409
|
Laws are the best axiomatization of the total history of world events or facts
|
|
|
|
Full Idea:
The Mill-Ramsey-Lewis theory takes laws to be axioms (or theorems) of the best possible systematizations of the world's total history, where such a history is a history of events or facts.
|
|
|
|
From:
report of David Lewis (Psychophysical and theoretical identifications [1972]) by Stephen Mumford - Laws in Nature 1.3
|
9423
|
If simplicity and strength are criteria for laws of nature, that introduces a subjective element
|
|
|
|
Full Idea:
Lewis's simplicity and strength criteria introduce an element of subjectivity into the laws, because the best system seems to be determined by what we take to be simple and strong in a system.
|
|
|
|
From:
comment on David Lewis (Psychophysical and theoretical identifications [1972]) by Stephen Mumford - Laws in Nature 3.5
|
|
|
|
A reaction:
[Mumford cites Armstrong 1983:67 for this]
|
9424
|
A number of systematizations might tie as the best and most coherent system
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
From:
comment on David Lewis (Psychophysical and theoretical identifications [1972]) by Stephen Mumford - Laws in Nature 3.5
|
|
|
|
A reaction:
[Mumord cites Armstrong 1983:70] Personally I am a fan of coherence theories, and this problem doesn't bother me.
|