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Single Idea 9473

[from 'Nature's Metaphysics' by Alexander Bird, in 26. Natural Theory / D. Laws of Nature / 5. Laws from Universals ]

Full Idea

Laws, or what flow from them, are supposed to provide a unified explanation of the behaviours of particulars. Without universals the explanation of the behaviours of things lacks the required unity.

Gist of Idea

Laws cannot offer unified explanations if they don't involve universals

Source

Alexander Bird (Nature's Metaphysics [2007], 2.1.2)

Book Reference

Bird,Alexander: 'Nature's Metaphysics' [OUP 2007], p.18


A Reaction

Sounds a bit question-begging? Gravity seems fairly unified, whereas the frequency of London buses doesn't. Maybe I could unify bus-behaviour by positing a few new universals? The unity should first be in the phenomena, not in the explanation.