Laws and Explanations; Theories and Modal Possibilities

Laws and Explanations; Theories and Modal Possibilities PDF Author: Arnold Koslow
Publisher: Springer Nature
ISBN: 3030188469
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 186

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Book Description
The book has two parts: In the first, after a review of some seminal classical accounts of laws and explanations, a new account is proposed for distinguishing between laws and accidental generalizations (LAG). Among the new consequences of this proposal it is proved that any explanation of a contingent generalization shows that the generalization is not accidental. The second part involves physical theories, their modality, and their explanatory power. In particular, it is shown that (1) Each theory has a theoretical implication structure associated with it, such that there are new physical modal operators on these structures and also special modal entities that are in these structures. A special subset of the physical modals, the nomic modals are associated with the laws of theories. (2) The familiar idea that theories always explain laws by deduction of them has to be seriously modified in light of the fact that there are a host of physical theories (including for example, Newtonian Classical mechanics, Hamiltonian, and Lagrangian theory, and probability theory) that we believe are schematic (they do not have any truth value). Nevertheless, we think that there is a kind of non-deductive explanation and generality that they achieve by subsumtion under a schema.

Laws and Explanations; Theories and Modal Possibilities

Laws and Explanations; Theories and Modal Possibilities PDF Author: Arnold Koslow
Publisher: Springer Nature
ISBN: 3030188469
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 186

Get Book Here

Book Description
The book has two parts: In the first, after a review of some seminal classical accounts of laws and explanations, a new account is proposed for distinguishing between laws and accidental generalizations (LAG). Among the new consequences of this proposal it is proved that any explanation of a contingent generalization shows that the generalization is not accidental. The second part involves physical theories, their modality, and their explanatory power. In particular, it is shown that (1) Each theory has a theoretical implication structure associated with it, such that there are new physical modal operators on these structures and also special modal entities that are in these structures. A special subset of the physical modals, the nomic modals are associated with the laws of theories. (2) The familiar idea that theories always explain laws by deduction of them has to be seriously modified in light of the fact that there are a host of physical theories (including for example, Newtonian Classical mechanics, Hamiltonian, and Lagrangian theory, and probability theory) that we believe are schematic (they do not have any truth value). Nevertheless, we think that there is a kind of non-deductive explanation and generality that they achieve by subsumtion under a schema.

The Nature of Contingency

The Nature of Contingency PDF Author: Alastair Wilson
Publisher:
ISBN: 0198846215
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 232

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Book Description
This book defends a radical new theory of contingency as a physical phenomenon. Drawing on the many-worlds approach, it argues that quantum theories are best understood as telling us about the space of genuine possibilities, rather than as telling us solely about actuality.

Reflections on the Foundations of Probability and Statistics

Reflections on the Foundations of Probability and Statistics PDF Author: Thomas Augustin
Publisher: Springer Nature
ISBN: 3031154363
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 350

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Book Description
This Festschrift celebrates Teddy Seidenfeld and his seminal contributions to philosophy, statistics, probability, game theory and related areas. The 13 contributions in this volume, written by leading researchers in these fields, are supplemented by an interview with Teddy Seidenfeld that offers an abbreviated intellectual autobiography, touching on topics of timeless interest concerning truth and uncertainty. Indeed, as the eminent philosopher Isaac Levi writes in this volume: "In a world dominated by Alternative Facts and Fake News, it is hard to believe that many of us have spent our life’s work, as has Teddy Seidenfeld, in discussing truth and uncertainty." The reader is invited to share this celebration of Teddy Seidenfeld’s work uncovering truths about uncertainty and the penetrating insights they offer to our common pursuit of truth in the face of uncertainty.

Kant on Laws

Kant on Laws PDF Author: Eric Watkins
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 1107163919
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 315

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Book Description
Provides a unified account of the notion of law - both natural and moral - in Kant's abstract and empirical philosophy.

Physical Theory

Physical Theory PDF Author: Lawrence Sklar
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
ISBN: 019514564X
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 305

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Book Description
In nine new essays, distinguished philosophers of science discuss outstanding issues in scientific methodology --especially that of the physical sciences-and address philosophical questions that arise in the exploration of the foundations of contemporary science.

A Structuralist Theory of Logic

A Structuralist Theory of Logic PDF Author: Arnold Koslow
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 0521412676
Category : Mathematics
Languages : en
Pages : 434

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Book Description
Professor Koslow advances a new account of the basic concepts of logic. A central feature of the theory is that it does not require the elements of logic to be based on a formal language. Rather, it uses a general notion of implication as a way of organizing the formal results of various systems of logic in a simple, but insightful way. The study has four parts. In the first two parts the various sources of the general concept of an implication structure and its forms are illustrated and explained. Part 3 defines the various logical operations and systematically explores their properties. A generalized account of extensionality and dual implication is given, and the extensionality of each of the operators, as well as the relation of negation and its dual are given substantial treatment because of the novel results they yield. Part 4 considers modal operators and studies their interaction with logical operators. By obtaining the usual results without the usual assumptions this new approach allows one to give a very simple account of modal logic minus the excess baggage of possible world semantics.

Chance and Temporal Asymmetry

Chance and Temporal Asymmetry PDF Author: Alastair Wilson
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
ISBN: 019967342X
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 307

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Book Description
This volume presents twelve original essays on the metaphysics of science, with particular focus on the physics of chance and time. Experts in the field subject familiar approaches to searching critiques, and make bold new proposals in a number of key areas. Together, they set the agenda for future work on the subject.

Real Metaphysics

Real Metaphysics PDF Author: Hallvard Lillehammer
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1134533446
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 257

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Book Description
Real Metaphysics brings together new articles by leading metaphysicians to honour Hugh Mellor's outstanding contribution to metaphysics. Some of the most outstanding minds of current times shed new light on all the main topics in metaphysics: truth, causation, dispositions and properties, explanation, and time. At the end of the book, Hugh Mellor responds to the issues raised by each of the thirteen contributors and gives us new insight into his own highly influential work on metaphysics.

Logical Modalities from Aristotle to Carnap

Logical Modalities from Aristotle to Carnap PDF Author: Adriane Rini
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 1107077885
Category : Mathematics
Languages : en
Pages : 365

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Book Description
Introduces readers to the history of necessity and possibility, two modal concepts which play a key role in philosophy.

A Companion to David Lewis

A Companion to David Lewis PDF Author: Barry Loewer
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 1118398610
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 595

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Book Description
In A Companion to David Lewis, Barry Loewer and Jonathan Schaffer bring together top philosophers to explain, discuss, and critically extend Lewis's seminal work in original ways. Students and scholars will discover the underlying themes and complex interconnections woven through the diverse range of his work in metaphysics, philosophy of language, logic, epistemology, philosophy of science, philosophy of mind, ethics, and aesthetics. The first and only comprehensive study of the work of David Lewis, one of the most systematic and influential philosophers of the latter half of the 20th century Contributions shed light on the underlying themes and complex interconnections woven through Lewis's work across his enormous range of influence, including metaphysics, language, logic, epistemology, science, mind, ethics, and aesthetics Outstanding Lewis scholars and leading philosophers working in the fields Lewis influenced explain, discuss, and critically extend Lewis's work in original ways An essential resource for students and researchers across analytic philosophy that covers the major themes of Lewis's work