Laws of Nature
This conference explored two related topics in Metaphysics and Philosophy of Science—Dispositions and Laws of Nature.
What, exactly, are laws of nature? It is tempting to say
that they are mere generalities—Newton's laws of motion, for example,
are simply general descriptions of how objects behave. But then how do
we distinguish between accidental generalities such as "all lumps
of gold are less than one mile thick" and the laws of nature?
Many philosophers believe that the notion of a disposition might
be useful in answering this question. Having a disposition is being prone
to act in certain ways in certain circumstances. Copper has a disposition
to conduct electricity, for example, while sugar has a disposition to
dissolve in water. But does this mean that copper and sugar have some
special powers in addition to their familiar physical make-up? If we can
understand more clearly what dispositions are, we may get closer to understanding
what laws of nature are.
The conference was sponsored by the UAB Department of Philosophy and the UAB Center for Ethics and Values in the Sciences. All sessions will be held in the Bevill Building (845 19th Street South), Room 170. For more information contact Jennifer McKitrick, mckitric@uab.edu.
