Philosophy of Physics: What are Laws of Nature?

Abide by Reason introduces the Humean or regularity theory of laws of nature for viewers who know physics equations like Newton’s law of gravitation but have never considered what those equations are metaphysically.

Abide by Reason presents instrumentalism for viewers willing to entertain a more deflationary attitude toward the reality of both laws and theoretical entities like electrons or quarks.

Abide by Reason reconstructs the theological or divine command view of laws for listeners familiar with Newtonian mechanics but unaware of Newton’s own metaphysical commitments.

Abide by Reason sketches a Platonic account of laws for viewers comfortable with abstract mathematics and the idea of numbers or shapes as genuine objects.

Abide by Reason presents an Aristotelian view for listeners open to the idea that physical objects have real natures or essences that ground how they behave.