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2 ideas
5479 | Scientific essentialists say science should define the limits of the possible [Ellis] |
Full Idea: Scientific essentialists hold that one of the primary aims of science is to define the limits of the possible. | |
From: Brian Ellis (The Philosophy of Nature: new essentialism [2002], Ch.6) | |
A reaction: I'm not sure working scientists will go along with that, but I like the claim that philosophy is very much part of the same enterprise as practical science (and NOT subservient to it!). I think of metaphysics as very high level physics. |
23900 | Chance is compatible with necessity, and the two occur together [Weil] |
Full Idea: Chance is not the contrary of necessity; it is not incompatible with necessity. On the contrary, it never appears except at the same time as necessity. | |
From: Simone Weil (The Scientific Image [1941], p.175) | |
A reaction: She illustrates it with the six terminating results of a die throw, and the innumerabe ways the throw can occur. This thought strikes me as relevant to discussions of free will. …But I'm not sure I fully understand it. |