Sober and Elgin on laws of biology: a critique |
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Authors: | Lane DesAutels |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Philosophy, University of Maryland at College Park, 8802 Bradford Rd, Silver Spring, MD 20901, USA |
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Abstract: | In this short discussion note, I discuss whether any of the generalizations made in biology should be construed as laws. Specifically,
I examine a strategy offered by Elliot Sober (1997) and supported by Mehmet Elgin (2006) to reformulate certain biological generalizations so as to eliminate their contingency, thereby allowing them to count as
laws. I argue that this strategy entails a conception of laws that is unacceptable on two counts: (1) Sober and Elgin’s approach
allows the possibility of formulating laws describing any biological phenomenon whatsoever; and (2) on Sober and Elgin’s view,
any interesting contrast between so-called laws and obviously accidental generalizations collapses. I conclude by offering
suggestions to refine their view in order to avoid these theoretical problems. |
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