back to ideas for this text


Single Idea 9484

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

Full Idea

If universals exist only where and when they are instantiated, this make serious trouble for the universals view of laws. It would be most odd if a particular, merely by changing its properties, could cause a law to go out of existence.

Gist of Idea

If the universals for laws must be instantiated, a vanishing particular could destroy a law

Source

Alexander Bird (Nature's Metaphysics [2007], 3.2.2)

Book Reference

Bird,Alexander: 'Nature's Metaphysics' [OUP 2007], p.52


A Reaction

This sounds conclusive. He notes that this is probably why Armstrong does not adopt this view (though Lowe seems to favour it). Could there be a possible property (and concomitant law) which was never ever instantiated?