num_pages: 324
description: Scientific Essentialism Defends The View That The Fundamental Laws Of Nature Depend On The Essential Properties Of The Things On Which They Are Said To Operate And Are Therefore Not Independent Of Them. These Laws Are Not Imposed On The World By God, The Forces Of Nature, Or Anything Else, But Rather Are Immanent In The World. Brian Ellis Argues That Ours Is A Dynamic World Consisting Of More Or Less Transient Objects That Are Constantly Interacting With Each Other And Whose Identities Depend On Their Roles In These Processes. Natural Objects Must Behave As They Do Because To Do Otherwise Would Be Contrary To Their Natures. The Laws Of Nature Are Therefore Metaphysically Necessary, And Consequently There Are Necessary Connections Between Events. Ellis Calls For The Rejection Of The Theory Of Humean Supervenience And Implementation Of A New Kind Of Realism In Philosophical Analysis. This Book Will Interest Professionals And Students Of Philosophy And The Philosophy Of Science.--jacket. Concepts. Concepts Of Scientific Essentialism -- Ontology. Natural Kinds ; Powers And Dispositions -- Scientific Explanation. Realism And Essentialism In Science ; Essentialism In The Social Sciences -- Laws Of Nature. Theories Of Laws Of Nature ; Natural Necessity -- The New Essentialism. The Essentialist Program. Brian Ellis. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 295-302) And Index.
language: en
title: Scientific Essentialism (Cambridge Studies in Philosophy)
publisher: Cambridge University Press