Combining Texts

Ideas for 'Confessions of a Philosopher', 'Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus' and 'Equality and Partiality'

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3 ideas

14. Science / B. Scientific Theories / 3. Instrumentalism
The 'Tractatus' is instrumentalist about laws of nature [Wittgenstein, by Armstrong]
     Full Idea: Wittgenstein is an instrumentalist about laws of nature in 'Tractatus'.
     From: report of Ludwig Wittgenstein (Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus [1921]) by David M. Armstrong - What is a Law of Nature? 01.3
     A reaction: [I record this, but don't know the reference]
14. Science / C. Induction / 2. Aims of Induction
Induction accepts the simplest law that fits our experiences [Wittgenstein]
     Full Idea: The procedure of induction consists in accepting as true the simplest law that can be reconciled with our experiences.
     From: Ludwig Wittgenstein (Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus [1921], 6.363)
14. Science / D. Explanation / 2. Types of Explanation / e. Lawlike explanations
The modern worldview is based on the illusion that laws explain nature [Wittgenstein]
     Full Idea: The whole modern conception of the world is founded on the illusion that the so-called laws of nature are the explanations of natural phenomena.
     From: Ludwig Wittgenstein (Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus [1921], 6.371)
     A reaction: Love it! Not only does it say that lawlike explanation is wrong, but it registers that this is a profound feature of the modern view of the world, and not just a slightly misguided philosophical theory.