Laws of Nature

ISBN-13: 9780521433341 / Angielski / Twarda / 1994 / 216 str.

John W. Carroll

Opis

John Carroll undertakes a careful philosophical examination of laws of nature, causation and other related topics. He argues that laws of nature are not susceptible to the sort of philosophical treatment preferred by empiricists. Indeed, he shows that empirically pure matters of fact need not even determine what the laws are. Similiar, even stronger, conclusions are drawn about causation. Replacing the traditional view of laws and causation requiring some kind of foundational legitimacy, the author argues that these phenomena are inextricably intertwined with everything else. This clear and detailed discussion of what it is to be a law should be valuable to a broad swathe of philosophers in metaphysics, the philosophy of mind, and the philosophy of science.

Recenzje

"Anyone who is interested in the metaphysics of laws of nature should find Carroll's book stimulating and worthwhile." Michael Tooley, The Philosophical Review

Spis treści

Acknowledgements; 1. Centrality; 2. Humean analyses; 3. Humean supervenience; 4. A realist perspective; 5. Causation; 6. The limits of inquiry; Appendix A: nomic platonism; Appendix B: defending (SC); References; Index.