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Single Idea 17488

[from 'Mechanisms' by Stuart Glennan, in 14. Science / B. Scientific Theories / 2. Aim of Science ]

Full Idea

In the empiricist tradition theories were understood to be deductive closures of sets of laws, explanations were understood as arguments from covering laws, and reduction was understood as a deductive relationship between laws of different theories.

Gist of Idea

Empiricist theories are sets of laws, which give explanations and reductions

Source

Stuart Glennan (Mechanisms [2008], 'Intro')

Book Reference

'Routledge Companion to Philosophy of Science', ed/tr. Psillos,S/Curd,M [Routledge 2010], p.376


A Reaction

A lovely crisp summary of the whole tradition of philosophy of science from Comte through to Hempel. Mechanism and essentialism are the new players in the game.

Related Idea

Idea 17487 Mechanistic philosophy of science is an alternative to the empiricist law-based tradition [Glennan]