The Problem of Nomological Harmony

Noûs (forthcoming)
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Abstract

Our universe features a harmonious match between laws and states: applying its laws to its states generates other states. This is a striking fact. Matters might have been otherwise. The universe might have been stillborn in a state unengaged by its laws. The problem of nomological harmony is that of explaining the noted striking fact. After introducing and developing this problem, we canvass candidate solutions and identify some of their virtues and vices. Candidate solutions invoke the likes of a designer, axiarchic meta-laws, multiverses, essential causal powers, and Humean laws.

Author Profiles

Brian Cutter
University of Notre Dame
Bradford Saad
University of Oxford

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