Kant and the Laws of Nature

This volume of new essays explores Kant's views on the laws of nature.

List of contents

Introduction; Part I. The Lawfulness of Nature: 1. Kant on the unity and diversity of laws Eric Watkins; 2. On universality, necessity, and law in general Karl Ameriks; 3. Imperfect knowledge of nature: Kant, Hume and laws of nature Paul Guyer; Part II. The Systematicity of Nature: 4. Why must we presuppose the systematicity of nature? Hannah Ginsborg; 5. Empirical scientific investigation and the ideas of reason Rachel Zuckert; 6. Kant's transcendental principle of purposiveness and the 'maxim of the lawfulness of empirical laws' Thomas Teufel; Part III. Nomic Necessity and the Metaphysics of Nature: 7. Kant's necessitation account of laws and the nature of natures James Messina; 8. Grounds, modality, and nomic necessity in the critical Kant Michela Massimi; 9. Kant on mathematical force laws Daniel Warren; Part IV. Laws in Physics: 10. Kant's conception of causal necessity and its legacy Michael Friedman; 11. Metaphysical foundations of neoclassical mechanics Marius Stan; Part V. Laws in Biology: 12. Laws in biology and unity of nature Angela Breitenbach; 13. The building forces of nature and Kant's teleology of the living Catherine Wilson.

About the author

Michela Massimi is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Edinburgh. She has published widely on Kant and on the history and philosophy of science.Angela Breitenbach is a Lecturer in Philosophy at the University of Cambridge and a fellow of King's College. Her research focuses on Kant, the philosophy of science, and aesthetics.

Summary

This is the first systematic investigation of Kant's treatment of the laws of nature, which are central to his philosophy of science. It will be of great interest to advanced students and scholars of Kant's philosophy of science, and to historians and philosophers of science more generally.

Product details

• Authors: Michela Massimi, Michela (University of Edinburgh) Breiten Massimi
• Assisted by: Angela Breitenbach (Editor), Angela (University of Cambridge) Breitenbach (Editor), Breitenbach Angela (Editor), Michela Massimi (Editor), Michela (University of Edinburgh) Massimi (Editor), Massimi Michela (Editor)
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press ELT
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 31.12.2018
• EAN: 9781107546776
• ISBN: 978-1-107-54677-6
• No. of pages: 300
• Subjects: Natural sciences, medicine, IT, technology > Natural sciences (general); Non-fiction book > Philosophy, religion > Philosophy: general, reference works; History of Ideas, Germany, popular science, PHILOSOPHY / History & Surveys / Modern, HISTORY / Social History, SCIENCE / Philosophy & Social Aspects, Philosophy of Science, c 1800 to c 1900, 19th century, c 1800 to c 1899, 18th century, c 1700 to c 1799, Western philosophy: Enlightenment, C 1700 To C 1800