Scerri, Eric (2024) Laws of nature according to some philosophers of science and according to chemists. Foundations of Chemistry, 26 (3). pp. 327-341.

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Abstract

The article contrasts the way that laws are regarded by some philosophers of science with the way that they are regarded by scientists and science educators. After a brief review of the Humean and necessitarian views of scientific laws, I highlight difference between scientists who regard laws as being merely descriptive and philosophers who generally regard them as being explanatory and, in some cases, as being necessary. I also discuss the views of two prominent philosophers of science who deny any role for scientific laws. I conclude that science educators should be wary of adopting the necessitarian view of scientific laws.

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Item Type:	Published Article or Volume
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Scerri, Eric scerri@chem.ucla.edu 0000-0001-9775-5829
Keywords:	Scientific laws · Hume · Van Fraassen · Necessitation · Periodic law · Gas laws
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Chemistry ٠ Out of Print ٠
Depositing User:	Eric Scerri
Date Deposited:	20 Dec 2024 14:41
Last Modified:	20 Dec 2024 14:41
Item ID:	24436
Journal or Publication Title:	Foundations of Chemistry
Official URL:	https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10698-0...
DOI or Unique Handle:	https://doi.org/10.1007/s10698-024-09517-x
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Chemistry ٠ Out of Print ٠
Date:	2024
Page Range:	pp. 327-341
Volume:	26
Number:	3
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/24436

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