Combining Texts

Ideas for 'Every Thing Must Go', 'Semantics for Propositional Attitudes' and 'The Strangest Man'

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2 ideas

7. Existence / A. Nature of Existence / 6. Criterion for Existence
To be is to be a real pattern [Ladyman/Ross]
     Full Idea: To be is to be a real pattern. ....Real patterns carry information about other real patterns. ...It's patterns all the way down.
     From: J Ladyman / D Ross (Every Thing Must Go [2007], 4.4)
     A reaction: I've plucked these bleeding from context, but they are obviously intended as slogans. Is there pattern 'inside' an electron? Are electrons all exterior?
Only admit into ontology what is explanatory and predictive [Ladyman/Ross]
     Full Idea: We reject any grounds other than explanatory and predictive utility for admitting something into our ontology.
     From: J Ladyman / D Ross (Every Thing Must Go [2007], 3.7.3)
     A reaction: Now you are talking. This is something like my thesis (which I take to be Aristotelian) - that without the drive for explanation we wouldn't even think of metaphysics, and so metaphysics should be understood in that light.