Newsletter of Phenomenology

Keeping phenomenologists informed since May 2002

237951

(1994) Synthese 101 (2).

Principles, laws, theories and the metaphysics of science

Craig Dilworth

pp. 223-247

In this paper an outline of a metaphysical conception of modern science is presented in which a fundamental distinction is drawn between scientific principles, laws and theories. On this view, ontologicalprinciples, rather than e.g. empirical data, constitute the core of science. The most fundamental of these principles are three in number, being, more particularly (A) the principle of the uniformity of nature, (B) the principle of the perpetuity of substance, and (C) the principle of causality.

Publication details

DOI: 10.1007/BF01064018

Full citation:

Dilworth, C. (1994). Principles, laws, theories and the metaphysics of science. Synthese 101 (2), pp. 223-247.

This document is unfortunately not available for download at the moment.