Ideas from 'Laws in Nature' by Stephen Mumford [2004], by Theme Structure

[found in 'Laws in Nature' by Mumford,Stephen [Routledge 2006,0-415-40782-6]].

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1. Philosophy / D. Nature of Philosophy / 6. Hopes for Philosophy

9408	Science studies phenomena, but only metaphysics tells us what exists

2. Reason / A. Nature of Reason / 1. On Reason

9429	Many forms of reasoning, such as extrapolation and analogy, are useful but deductively invalid

7. Existence / A. Nature of Existence / 1. Nature of Existence

9427	For Humeans the world is a world primarily of events

8. Modes of Existence / C. Powers and Dispositions / 2. Powers as Basic

9446	Properties are just natural clusters of powers

8. Modes of Existence / E. Nominalism / 1. Nominalism / a. Nominalism

9435	A 'porridge' nominalist thinks we just divide reality in any way that suits us

8. Modes of Existence / E. Nominalism / 2. Resemblance Nominalism

9447	If properties are clusters of powers, this can explain why properties resemble in degrees

9. Objects / D. Essence of Objects / 14. Knowledge of Essences

12248

How can we show that a universally possessed property is an essential property?

26. Natural Theory / C. Causation / 9. General Causation / b. Nomological causation

9430	Singular causes, and identities, might be necessary without falling under a law

26. Natural Theory / C. Causation / 9. General Causation / c. Counterfactual causation

9445	We can give up the counterfactual account if we take causal language at face value

26. Natural Theory / C. Causation / 9. General Causation / d. Causal necessity

9443	It is only properties which are the source of necessity in the world

26. Natural Theory / D. Laws of Nature / 1. Laws of Nature

9444	There are four candidates for the logical form of law statements

26. Natural Theory / D. Laws of Nature / 4. Regularities / a. Regularity theory

9416	Regularities are more likely with few instances, and guaranteed with no instances!

9415	Would it count as a regularity if the only five As were also B?

9431	Pure regularities are rare, usually only found in idealized conditions

9441	Regularity laws don't explain, because they have no governing role

26. Natural Theory / D. Laws of Nature / 4. Regularities / b. Best system theory

9421	The best systems theory says regularities derive from laws, rather than constituting them

9422	If the best system describes a nomological system, the laws are in nature, not in the description

26. Natural Theory / D. Laws of Nature / 5. Laws from Universals

9432	Laws of nature are necessary relations between universal properties, rather than about particulars

9433	If laws can be uninstantiated, this favours the view of them as connecting universals

26. Natural Theory / D. Laws of Nature / 8. Scientific Essentialism / c. Essence and laws

9434	Laws of nature are just the possession of essential properties by natural kinds

26. Natural Theory / D. Laws of Nature / 8. Scientific Essentialism / d. Knowing essences

9437	To distinguish accidental from essential properties, we must include possible members of kinds

26. Natural Theory / D. Laws of Nature / 11. Against Laws of Nature

9411	There are no laws of nature in Aristotle; they became standard with Descartes and Newton

9439	The Central Dilemma is how to explain an internal or external view of laws which govern

9412	You only need laws if you (erroneously) think the world is otherwise inert