Thinking about Non-Universal Laws

Reutlinger, Alexander and Unterhuber, Matthias (eds.) (2014): Thinking about Non-Universal Laws. Erkenntnis, Vol. 79. Dordrecht [u.a.]: Springer.

Abstract

What are ceteris paribus (cp) laws? Which disciplines appeal to cp laws and which semantics, metaphysical underpinning, and epistemological dimensions do cp law statements have? Firstly, we give a short overview of the recent discussion on cp laws, which addresses these questions. Secondly, we suggest that given the rich and diverse literature on cp laws a broad conception of cp laws should be endorsed which takes into account the different ways in which laws can be non-universal (by being "non-strict," "inexact," "exception-ridden," "idealized" and so forth). Finally, we provide an overview of the special issue on that basis and describe the individual contributions to the special issue according to the issues they address: (a) the range of applications of cp laws as well as the (b) semantics, (c) metaphysics, and (d) epistemology pertaining to cp law statements.

• Item Type: Editorship
• Faculties: Philosophy, Philosophy of Science and Religious Science > Munich Center for Mathematical Philosophy (MCMP); Philosophy, Philosophy of Science and Religious Science > Munich Center for Mathematical Philosophy (MCMP) > Philosophy of Science
• Subjects: 100 Philosophy and Psychology > 100 Philosophy
• ISSN: 1572-8420
• Place of Publication: Dordrecht [u.a.]
• Annotation: Special Issue "Ceteris Paribus Laws Revisited"
• Language: English