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Single Idea 14341

[from 'Dispositions' by Stephen Mumford, in 26. Natural Theory / D. Laws of Nature / 4. Regularities / a. Regularity theory ]

Full Idea

The improved Dretske/Armstrong regularity view of laws dispenses with the empiricist articulation of them in terms of events, and construes them as singular statements of fact that describe relations between properties.

Gist of Idea

Dretske and Armstrong base laws on regularities between individual properties, not between events

Source

Stephen Mumford (Dispositions [1998], 10.4)

Book Reference

Mumford,Stephen: 'Dispositions' [OUP 1998], p.225


A Reaction

They then seem to go a bit mystical, by insisting that the properties are 'universals' (even if they have to be instantiated). Universals explain nothing.