Single Idea 14944

[catalogued under 9. Objects / A. Existence of Objects / 6. Nihilism about Objects]

Full Idea

There is no single account of what individuals there are because, we argue, the special sciences may disagree about the bounds and status of individuals since they describe the world at different scales.

Clarification

Any science which is not fundamental is known as 'special'

Gist of Idea

There is no single view of individuals, because different sciences operate on different scales

Source

J Ladyman / D Ross (Every Thing Must Go [2007], 3.8)

Book Reference

Ladyman,J/Ross,D: 'Every Thing Must Go' [OUP 2007], p.189


A Reaction

This seems to deny that nature has actual joints, and so seems to me to be a form of anti-realism (which they would deny). Why shouldn't there be a single view which unites all of these special sciences?

Related Idea

Idea 14946 There are no cats in quantum theory, and no mountains in astrophysics [Ladyman/Ross]