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Single Idea 6802

[from 'Philosophy of Science' by Alexander Bird, in 26. Natural Theory / D. Laws of Nature / 4. Regularities / b. Best system theory ]

Full Idea

We learned from Goodman's problem that with strange enough predicates anything could be made out to be a regularity.

Clarification

'Predicates' attribute properties to objects

Gist of Idea

With strange enough predicates, anything could be made out to be a regularity

Source

Alexander Bird (Philosophy of Science [1998], Ch.8)

Book Reference

Bird,Alexander: 'Philosophy of Science' [UCL Press 2000], p.239


A Reaction

For Goodman's problem, see Idea 4783. The point, as I see it, is that while predicates can be applied arbitrarily (because they are just linguistic), properties cannot, because they are features of the world. Emeralds are green.

Related Idea

Idea 4783 Observing lots of green x can confirm 'all x are green' or 'all x are grue', where 'grue' is arbitrary [Mautner, by PG]