Wilhelm, Isaac (2022) Tractability and Laws. Synthese.
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Abstract
According to the Best System Account (BSA) of lawhood, laws of nature are theorems of the deductive systems that best balance simplicity and strength. In this paper, I advocate a different account of lawhood which is related, in spirit, to the BSA: according to my account, laws are theorems of deductive systems that best balance simplicity, strength, and also calculational tractability. I discuss two problems that the BSA faces, and I show that my account solves them. I also use my account to illuminate the nomological character of special science laws.
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| Item Type: | Published Article or Volume | ||||||
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| Subjects: | General Issues > Laws of Nature Specific Sciences > Physics |
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| Depositing User: | Isaac Wilhelm | ||||||
| Date Deposited: | 15 Dec 2025 20:22 | ||||||
| Last Modified: | 15 Dec 2025 20:22 | ||||||
| Item ID: | 27487 | ||||||
| Journal or Publication Title: | Synthese | ||||||
| Subjects: | General Issues > Laws of Nature Specific Sciences > Physics |
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| Date: | 2022 | ||||||
| URI: | https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/27487 |
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