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The Laws' Properties

Persson, Johannes LU orcid (2005) p.239-254
Abstract
We are good at discussing law statements of different epistemic status, and to describe logical relationships between different law statements. But contemporary discussion often suffers from a difficulty to formulate questions concerning laws of different ontological status. This paper presents a framework for distinguishing between properties and fake properties that seems to provide better tools for such inquiries. This paper also examines criteria for properties in connection with laws of nature. It discusses three suggested tests for properties, by Maxwell, Ramsey, and Cartwright. None of these tests is good as it stands. Rather than favouring one particular test, we should opt for methodologically stable decisions, i.e. decisions... (More)
We are good at discussing law statements of different epistemic status, and to describe logical relationships between different law statements. But contemporary discussion often suffers from a difficulty to formulate questions concerning laws of different ontological status. This paper presents a framework for distinguishing between properties and fake properties that seems to provide better tools for such inquiries. This paper also examines criteria for properties in connection with laws of nature. It discusses three suggested tests for properties, by Maxwell, Ramsey, and Cartwright. None of these tests is good as it stands. Rather than favouring one particular test, we should opt for methodologically stable decisions, i.e. decisions where several tests come to the same conclusion. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
organization
publishing date
type
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
publication status
published
subject
keywords
mechanism, Cartwright, universal, trope, Laws of nature
host publication
Nature's principles
editor
Faye, Jan ; Scheffler, Uwe and Urchs, Max
pages
239 - 254
publisher
Springer
ISBN
1-4020-3257-9
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
c6e74ba1-0a03-4db2-8398-aaed80f3e0b5 (old id 1608165)
date added to LUP
2016-04-04 11:06:10
date last changed
2025-04-04 14:54:44
@inbook{c6e74ba1-0a03-4db2-8398-aaed80f3e0b5,
  abstract     = {{We are good at discussing law statements of different epistemic status, and to describe logical relationships between different law statements. But contemporary discussion often suffers from a difficulty to formulate questions concerning laws of different ontological status. This paper presents a framework for distinguishing between properties and fake properties that seems to provide better tools for such inquiries. This paper also examines criteria for properties in connection with laws of nature. It discusses three suggested tests for properties, by Maxwell, Ramsey, and Cartwright. None of these tests is good as it stands. Rather than favouring one particular test, we should opt for methodologically stable decisions, i.e. decisions where several tests come to the same conclusion.}},
  author       = {{Persson, Johannes}},
  booktitle    = {{Nature's principles}},
  editor       = {{Faye, Jan and Scheffler, Uwe and Urchs, Max}},
  isbn         = {{1-4020-3257-9}},
  keywords     = {{mechanism; Cartwright; universal; trope; Laws of nature}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{239--254}},
  publisher    = {{Springer}},
  title        = {{The Laws' Properties}},
  year         = {{2005}},
}