Chen, Eddy Keming (2024) The Simplicity of Physical Laws. [Preprint]
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Abstract
Physical laws are strikingly simple, although there is no a priori reason they must be so. I propose that nomic realists of all types (Humeans and non-Humeans) should accept that simplicity is a fundamental epistemic guide for discovering and evaluating candidate physical laws. The proposal addresses several problems of nomic realism and simplicity. A consequence is that the oft-cited epistemic advantage of Humeanism over non-Humeanism disappears, undercutting an influential epistemological argument for Humeanism. Moreover, simplicity is shown to be more tightly connected to lawhood than to mere truth.
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| Item Type: | Preprint | ||||||
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| Keywords: | empirical equivalence, induction, underdetermination, determinism, strong determinism, primitivism, Humeanism, non-Humeanism, laws of nature, Bayesianism, comparative probability, expert principle | ||||||
| Subjects: | General Issues > Scientific Metaphysics General Issues > Explanation General Issues > Laws of Nature Specific Sciences > Physics General Issues > Realism/Anti-realism |
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| Depositing User: | Dr. Eddy Keming Chen | ||||||
| Date Deposited: | 24 Oct 2024 12:03 | ||||||
| Last Modified: | 24 Oct 2024 12:03 | ||||||
| Item ID: | 24106 | ||||||
| Subjects: | General Issues > Scientific Metaphysics General Issues > Explanation General Issues > Laws of Nature Specific Sciences > Physics General Issues > Realism/Anti-realism |
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| Date: | 23 October 2024 | ||||||
| URI: | https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/24106 |
Available Versions of this Item
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The Simplicity of Physical Laws. (deposited 15 Oct 2022 03:34)
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The Simplicity of Physical Laws. (deposited 12 Jun 2023 12:58)
- The Simplicity of Physical Laws. (deposited 24 Oct 2024 12:03) [Currently Displayed]
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The Simplicity of Physical Laws. (deposited 12 Jun 2023 12:58)
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