Full Idea
The things that, as far as observation reaches, we constantly find to proceed regularly, do act by a law set them; but yet by a law that we know not; ..their connections and dependencies being not discoverable in our ideas, we need experimental knowledge.
Gist of Idea
If we observe total regularity, there must be some unknown law and relationships controlling it
Source
John Locke (Essay Conc Human Understanding (2nd Ed) [1694], 4.03.29)
Book Reference
Locke,John: 'Essay Concerning Human Understanding', ed/tr. Nidditch,P.H. [OUP 1979], p.560
A Reaction
In Idea 15992 he expressed scepticism about the amount of regularity that is actually found, with many so-called 'kinds' being quite irregular in their members. I agree. The only true natural kinds are the totally regular ones. Why a 'law'?
Related Idea
Idea 15992 Many individuals grouped under one name vary more than some things that have different names [Locke]