Philosophy Dictionary of ArgumentsHome
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| Regularity, philosophy: regularity. The expression is usually used in connection with considerations of causality. The question is whether the determination of regularities is sufficient for the formulation of laws of nature. Opponents of the regularity theory demand that, in addition to the observation of positive cases, a formal determination is made on cases that have not yet occurred. For this purpose, e.g. a counterfactual conditional is established. E.g. if A were the case, then B would be the case, assuming that case A did not (yet) occur. See also causation, law of nature, laws, counterfactual conditional, unreal conditional clauses, cause, effect, induction._____________Annotation: The above characterizations of concepts are neither definitions nor exhausting presentations of problems related to them. Instead, they are intended to give a short introduction to the contributions below. – Lexicon of Arguments. | |||
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Bas van Fraassen on Regularities - Dictionary of Arguments
I 211 Regularity / Fraassen: practically do not exist - E.g. things that are under your full control. - E.g. content of your pocket is no regularity - no more fundamental regularities. >Simplicity. But we need to explain why things approximately obay to regularities. Hypothesis: the greater uniformity will be the truer one! - (> Gradation). Solution: postulation of microstructures. >Microstructure. I 213 Only observable regularities need to be explained. >Observability, >Unobservables, >Theoretical entities, >Theories, >Explanations._____________Explanation of symbols: Roman numerals indicate the source, arabic numerals indicate the page number. The corresponding books are indicated on the right hand side. ((s)…): Comment by the sender of the contribution. Translations: Dictionary of Arguments The note [Concept/Author], [Author1]Vs[Author2] or [Author]Vs[term] resp. "problem:"/"solution:", "old:"/"new:" and "thesis:" is an addition from the Dictionary of Arguments. If a German edition is specified, the page numbers refer to this edition. |
Fr I B. van Fraassen The Scientific Image Oxford 1980 |
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> Counter arguments against Fraassen
> Counter arguments in relation to Regularities
Ed. Martin Schulz, access date 2024-04-27