Perhaps the most significant contemporary theory of lawhood is the Best System (/MRL) view on which laws are true generalizations that best systematize knowledge. Our question in this paper will be how best to formulate a theory of this kind. We'll argue that an acceptable MRL should (i) avoid inter-system comparisons of simplicity, strength, and balance, (ii) make lawhood epistemically accessible, and (iii) allow for laws in the special sciences. Attention to these problems will bring into focus a useful menu of novel MRL theories, some of which solve problems the original MRL theory could not. Hence we conceive of the paper as moving toward a better Best System theory of laws. © 2009 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.
CITATION STYLE
Cohen, J., & Callender, C. (2009). A better best system account of lawhood. Philosophical Studies, 145(1), 1–34. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11098-009-9389-3
Mendeley helps you to discover research relevant for your work.