Plutynski, Anya (2023) Sometimes you ride the Pegasus, sometimes you take the road: Mitchell on laws in biology. THEORIA. An International Journal for Theory, History and Foundations of Science, 38 (3). pp. 373-388. ISSN 2171-679X

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Abstract

Mitchell’s philosophical contributions are part of an ongoing conversation among philosophers and scientists about laws and unification in biology, going back at least to Darwin. This article situates Mitchell in this conversation, explains why and how she has correctly guided us away from false idols, and engages several difficult questions she leaves open. I argue that there are different epistemic roles laws (or models describing lawlike regularities) play in biological inquiry. First, they play the role of “how possibly” explanations, akin to Herschel’s characterization of Whewell’s “a priori Pegasus,” and second, they provide descriptions of empirical regularities, akin to the “plain matter of fact roadster.”

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Item Type:	Published Article or Volume
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Plutynski, Anya aplutyns@wustl.edu
Additional Information:	ISSN: 0495-4548 (print)
Keywords:	laws, unification, integration, explanation, prediction, biology
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Biology General Issues > Laws of Nature General Issues > Models and Idealization General Issues > Philosophers of Science General Issues > Reductionism/Holism
Depositing User:	Unnamed user with email theoria@ehu.es
Date Deposited:	03 Aug 2024 15:37
Last Modified:	03 Aug 2024 15:37
Item ID:	23751
Journal or Publication Title:	THEORIA. An International Journal for Theory, History and Foundations of Science
Publisher:	Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea / Universidad del País Vasco
Official URL:	https://ojs.ehu.eus/index.php/THEORIA/article/view...
DOI or Unique Handle:	10.1387/theoria.23963
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Biology General Issues > Laws of Nature General Issues > Models and Idealization General Issues > Philosophers of Science General Issues > Reductionism/Holism
Date:	December 2023
Page Range:	pp. 373-388
Volume:	38
Number:	3
ISSN:	2171-679X
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/23751

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