The Metaphysics of Ceteris Paribus Laws - Schrenk, Markus Andreas (De Gruyter, 2007)
Acknowledgements; contents; introduction; part i: two distinctions; 1.1real versus pseudo exceptions; 1.2fundamental versusnon-fundamental laws; part ii: fundamental laws; 2.1fundamental laws:general considerations; 2.2fundamental laws:david lewis; 2.3fundamental laws:david armstrong; part iii: non-fundamental laws; 3.1non-fundamental laws: generalconsiderations; 3.2non-fundamental laws: groundedlaws; 3.3non-fundamental laws: emergentlaws; conclusion; bibliography; index
Universality is not sufficient to distinguish laws of nature from accidental regularities. A multitude of additional defining features have been suggested. Yet, once it is acknowledged that exceptionless universality is not the only criterion for lawhood it is possible to start questioning whether it is necessary. Markus Schrenk's The Metaphysics of Ceteris Paribus Laws takes this bold step and it's provocative conclusion is that existing theories - especially David Lewis's and David Armstrong's - are, in fact, strong enough to guarantee lawhood even if there are instances that do not conform
Keywords: BUSINESS & ECONOMICS / Economics / Theory; Causation; Economics / Philosophy; Natural law (Philosophy); Science / Methodology; Science / Philosophy; Naturwissenschaft; Philosophie; Wirtschaft; Economics -- Philosophy; Natural law -- Philosophy; Science -- Philosophy; Science -- Methodology; Metaphysik; Ceteris-paribus-Klausel; Gesetz -- Wissenschaft; Hochschulschrift