Simplicity, Language-Dependency and the Best System Account of Laws

Theoria : An International Journal for Theory, History and Fundations of Science 31 (2):189-206 (2014)
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Abstract

It is often said that the best system account of laws needs supplementing with a theory of perfectly natural properties. The ‘strength’ and ‘simplicity’ of a system is language-relative and without a fixed vocabulary it is impossible to compare rival systems. Recently a number of philosophers have attempted to reformulate the BSA in an effort to avoid commitment to natural properties. I assess these proposals and argue that they are problematic as they stand. Nonetheless, I agree with their aim, and show that if simplicity is interpreted as ‘compression’, algorithmic information theory provides a framework for system comparison without the need for natural properties.

Other Versions

reprint Wheeler, Billy (2016) "Simplicity, Language-Dependency and the Best System Account of Laws". Theoria: Revista de Teoría, Historia y Fundamentos de la Ciencia 31(2):189-206

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Billy Wheeler
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Citations of this work

Humeanism and Exceptions in the Fundamental Laws of Physics.Billy Wheeler - 2017 - Principia: An International Journal of Epistemology 21 (3):317-337.
Laws of Nature and Free Will.Pedro Merlussi - 2017 - Dissertation, Durham University

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References found in this work

Fact, Fiction, and Forecast.Nelson Goodman - 1983 - Cambridge: Harvard University Press.
Laws and symmetry.Bas C. Van Fraassen - 1989 - New York: Oxford University Press.
New work for a theory of universals.David K. Lewis - 1983 - Australasian Journal of Philosophy 61 (4):343-377.
A System of Logic.John Stuart Mill - 1829/2002 - Longman.
Scientific Essentialism.Brian Ellis - 2001 - New York: Cambridge University Press.

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