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2 ideas
14956 | Explanation by kinds and by clusters of properties just express the stability of reality [Ladyman/Ross] |
Full Idea: Philosophers sometimes invoke natural kinds as if they explain the possibility of explanation. This is characteristically neo-scholastic. That anything can be explained, and that properties cluster together, express one fact: reality is relatively stable. | |
From: J Ladyman / D Ross (Every Thing Must Go [2007], 5.6) | |
A reaction: Odd idea. I would have thought that if there are indeed kinds and clusters, this would explain a great deal more than mere stability. Or, more accurately, they would invite a more substantial explanation than mere stability would seem to need. |
14957 | There is nothing more to a natural kind than a real pattern in nature [Ladyman/Ross] |
Full Idea: Everything that a naturalist could legitimately want from the concept of a natural kind can be had simply by reference to real patterns. | |
From: J Ladyman / D Ross (Every Thing Must Go [2007], 5.6) | |
A reaction: I think I agree with this, and with the general idea that natural kinds are overrated. There are varying degrees of stability in nature, and where there is a lot of stability our inductive reasoning can get to work. And that's it. |