Skip to main content
Journal cover image

Does biology have laws? The experimental evidence

Publication ,  Journal Article
Brandon, RN
Published in: Philosophy of Science
January 1, 1997

In this paper I argue that we can best make sense of the practice of experimental evolutionary biology if we see it as investigating contingent, rather than lawlike, regularities. This understanding is contrasted with the experimental practice of certain areas of physics. However, this presents a problem for those who accept the Logical Positivist conception of law and its essential role in scientific explanation. I address this problem by arguing that the contingent regularities of evolutionary biology have a limited range of nomic necessity and a limited range of explanatory power even though they lack the unlimited projectibility that has been seen by some as a hallmark of scientific laws. Copyright 1997 by the Philosophy of Science Association. All rigts reserved.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Philosophy of Science

DOI

ISSN

0031-8248

Publication Date

January 1, 1997

Volume

64

Issue

4 SUPPL. 1

Related Subject Headings

  • Science Studies
  • 5003 Philosophy
  • 5002 History and philosophy of specific fields
  • 2203 Philosophy
  • 2202 History and Philosophy of Specific Fields
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Brandon, R. N. (1997). Does biology have laws? The experimental evidence. Philosophy of Science, 64(4 SUPPL. 1). https://doi.org/10.1086/392621
Brandon, R. N. “Does biology have laws? The experimental evidence.” Philosophy of Science 64, no. 4 SUPPL. 1 (January 1, 1997). https://doi.org/10.1086/392621.
Brandon RN. Does biology have laws? The experimental evidence. Philosophy of Science. 1997 Jan 1;64(4 SUPPL. 1).
Brandon, R. N. “Does biology have laws? The experimental evidence.” Philosophy of Science, vol. 64, no. 4 SUPPL. 1, Jan. 1997. Scopus, doi:10.1086/392621.
Brandon RN. Does biology have laws? The experimental evidence. Philosophy of Science. 1997 Jan 1;64(4 SUPPL. 1).
Journal cover image

Published In

Philosophy of Science

DOI

ISSN

0031-8248

Publication Date

January 1, 1997

Volume

64

Issue

4 SUPPL. 1

Related Subject Headings

  • Science Studies
  • 5003 Philosophy
  • 5002 History and philosophy of specific fields
  • 2203 Philosophy
  • 2202 History and Philosophy of Specific Fields