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.