Full Idea
We cannot infer a regularity from its instances unless there is something stronger than the regularity itself binding the instances together.
Gist of Idea
We can only infer a true regularity if something binds the instances together
Source
Alexander Bird (Philosophy of Science [1998], Ch.1)
Book Reference
Bird,Alexander: 'Philosophy of Science' [UCL Press 2000], p.49
A Reaction
Spells out the implication of the example in Idea 6748. The reply to this criticism would be that no account can possibly be given of the 'something stronger' than further regularities, at a lower level (e.g. in the physics).
Related Idea
Idea 6748 Similar appearance of siblings is a regularity, but shared parents is what links them [Bird]