Single Idea 16273

[catalogued under 7. Existence / C. Structure of Existence / 5. Supervenience / d. Humean supervenience]

Full Idea

The Humean Mosaic appears to admit of no further explanation. Since it is the ontological bedrock, …none of the further things can account for the structure of the Mosaic itself.

Gist of Idea

If the Humean Mosaic is ontological bedrock, there can be no explanation of its structure

Source

Tim Maudlin (The Metaphysics within Physics [2007], 6)

Book Reference

Maudlin,Tim: 'The Metaphysics within Physics' [OUP 2007], p.172


A Reaction

A very nice point, reminiscent of Popper's objection to essentialism, that he thought it blocked further enquiry, when actually further enquiry was possible. Lewis and Hume seem too mesmerised by epistemology. They need best explanation.

Related Idea

Idea 16210 Humean supervenience says the world is just a vast mosaic of qualities in space-time [Lewis]