Combining Texts

All the ideas for 'How the Laws of Physics Lie', 'Introduction to Russell's Theory of Types' and 'Perpetual Peace'

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28 ideas

4. Formal Logic / F. Set Theory ST / 4. Axioms for Sets / p. Axiom of Reducibility
The Axiom of Reducibility is self-effacing: if true, it isn't needed [Quine]
7. Existence / E. Categories / 4. Category Realism
Causality indicates which properties are real [Cartwright,N]
14. Science / D. Explanation / 2. Types of Explanation / a. Types of explanation
Two main types of explanation are by causes, or by citing a theoretical framework [Cartwright,N]
14. Science / D. Explanation / 2. Types of Explanation / c. Explanations by coherence
An explanation is a model that fits a theory and predicts the phenomenological laws [Cartwright,N]
14. Science / D. Explanation / 2. Types of Explanation / e. Lawlike explanations
Laws get the facts wrong, and explanation rests on improvements and qualifications of laws [Cartwright,N]
Laws apply to separate domains, but real explanations apply to intersecting domains [Cartwright,N]
Covering-law explanation lets us explain storms by falling barometers [Cartwright,N]
I disagree with the covering-law view that there is a law to cover every single case [Cartwright,N]
You can't explain one quail's behaviour by just saying that all quails do it [Cartwright,N]
The covering law view assumes that each phenomenon has a 'right' explanation [Cartwright,N]
14. Science / D. Explanation / 3. Best Explanation / c. Against best explanation
In science, best explanations have regularly turned out to be false [Cartwright,N]
24. Political Theory / A. Basis of a State / 1. A People / b. The natural life
The state of nature always involves the threat of war [Kant]
24. Political Theory / B. Nature of a State / 2. State Legitimacy / c. Social contract
Kant made the social contract international and cosmopolitan [Kant, by Oksala]
24. Political Theory / B. Nature of a State / 2. State Legitimacy / d. General will
The a priori general will of a people shows what is right [Kant]
24. Political Theory / B. Nature of a State / 3. Constitutions
Each nation should, from self-interest, join an international security constitution [Kant]
A constitution must always be improved when necessary [Kant]
25. Social Practice / B. Equalities / 3. Legal equality
Equality is where you cannot impose a legal obligation you yourself wouldn't endure [Kant]
25. Social Practice / C. Rights / 1. Basis of Rights
There is now a growing universal community, and violations of rights are felt everywhere [Kant]
There are political and inter-national rights, but also universal cosmopolitan rights [Kant]
25. Social Practice / E. Policies / 1. War / c. Combatants
Hiring soldiers is to use them as instruments, ignoring their personal rights [Kant]
25. Social Practice / E. Policies / 1. War / e. Peace
Some trust in the enemy is needed during wartime, or peace would be impossible [Kant]
26. Natural Theory / C. Causation / 8. Particular Causation / e. Probabilistic causation
A cause won't increase the effect frequency if other causes keep interfering [Cartwright,N]
26. Natural Theory / D. Laws of Nature / 2. Types of Laws
There are fundamental explanatory laws (false!), and phenomenological laws (regularities) [Cartwright,N, by Bird]
Laws of appearances are 'phenomenological'; laws of reality are 'theoretical' [Cartwright,N]
26. Natural Theory / D. Laws of Nature / 4. Regularities / b. Best system theory
Good organisation may not be true, and the truth may not organise very much [Cartwright,N]
26. Natural Theory / D. Laws of Nature / 11. Against Laws of Nature
To get from facts to equations, we need a prepared descriptions suited to mathematics [Cartwright,N]
Simple laws have quite different outcomes when they act in combinations [Cartwright,N]
There are few laws for when one theory meets another [Cartwright,N]