Law of nature (philosophy)
The "Law of Nature" in philosophy refers to the ordered patterns of occurrences observed in the natural world, characterized by their universality, constancy, and observability. These laws manifest across a wide range of phenomena, from the behavior of subatomic particles to celestial movements. Unlike human-made laws, true laws of nature are consistent and apply universally, allowing scientists to formulate predictions and conduct experiments with reliable outcomes. Philosophers and scientists have explored these laws for centuries, debating their implications on free will and the nature of reality. The study of natural laws has significantly influenced both scientific understanding and philosophical inquiry, contributing to major historical movements like the Enlightenment. Additionally, these laws have practical applications, such as carbon-14 dating, which utilizes the predictable decay of materials for age estimation. While no changes in these fundamental laws have been documented, hypothetical alterations could have profound consequences for both nature and humanity. It is important to distinguish between "laws of nature" and "natural laws," the latter being political theories based on the principles derived from natural observations.
Law of nature (philosophy)
A law of nature is an ordered pattern of occurrences in the natural world. These occurrences must be universal, constant, and observable to be true laws of nature. The laws of nature come in an endless variety of forms and scales, affecting everything from reactions between subatomic particles to the motions of planets in space. For millennia, humans have studied the laws of nature, drawing important scientific knowledge, philosophical insights, and even political theories from them.
Qualities of Laws of Nature
The laws of nature are ordered patterns of occurrences observed in nature. These patterns come in a variety of forms. They may affect the growth of plants and animals; the movements of ocean tides, air currents, or even planets; the behavior and interactions of chemicals and atomic particles; or any other natural activity. They also occur on an enormous range of scales, from the subatomic to the intergalactic. Despite their endless diversity, these patterns must share certain qualities to be considered true laws of nature.
The main qualification is that the occurrences must be universal and constant, happening all the time and in every circumstance. Unlike human laws, which can be arbitrary and differ from place to place, true laws of nature remain unchanged throughout the known universe. A law that applied at one time in one place would apply in every other time and place. True laws of nature are so constant that scientists can evaluate them using mathematics and experiments and be assured that the results will always be the same.
People have determined laws of nature through evidence and observation. A true law must be clearly demonstrated in real occurrences in nature, not just through scientific probabilities or predictions based on logic. In addition, true laws should also make sense when added to other laws in scientific knowledge. A law of nature should not interfere with known information about another law. Ideally, the laws should work together, and by studying them collectively, people can reach ever-greater understandings of the natural universe.
Laws of nature come in many categories. Many laws relate to how different forms of matter interact or how matter reacts in varying situations. A basic example would be the law of nature that dictates how water will turn to ice when subjected to very low temperatures. Some laws relate to time order and show how changes take place gradually in nature. For instance, the phases of the moon demonstrate a sequential order that basically never varies. The constancy of the laws governing lunar phases is such that people can predict beforehand when the various phases will occur. Other laws of nature relate to the properties of matter. Statements such as lava is always hot or rocks are always hard are examples of this idea.
Impact on Humans
For thousands of years, people have observed, studied, measured, and theorized on the laws of nature. These laws have helped to bring order not only to the natural world but also to human life. Humans use the laws of nature to help them understand more about natural science. For instance, one law of nature causes a material called carbon-14 to decay at a constant rate. By studying this decay, scientists can reliably estimate the age of objects that contain carbon-14. This process is called carbon-14 dating.
The laws of nature have also contributed greatly to human philosophical studies. Philosophers have pondered the laws of nature for many millennia and used them as evidence to debate fundamental questions such as whether free will exists. Many philosophers have even contemplated the laws of nature themselves. Great thinkers have asked whether the laws of nature are coincidental regularities that humans perceive as laws or concrete guiding principles that force nature to behave in certain ways. Such questions have many possible answers and contribute to further debate in many topics of philosophy, science, and other fields.
Some scientists and philosophers have questioned whether the laws of nature can ever change. No known evidence exists that shows any true law of nature has ever changed, and most scientists believe that the laws have reigned unchanged for billions of years. Should they ever occur, alterations in the basic laws of nature could conceivably cause massive changes to the natural and human worlds and possibly great chaos and suffering. Even a minute change in the laws of nature could have dire repercussions for all living things.
The study of the laws of nature, along with other changes in science and philosophy, contributed to the Enlightenment period in Europe and North America in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. During this time, thinkers began moving away from traditions and creating new ideas based on reason and a belief in the importance of the individual. Most notably, some Enlightenment writers, drawing from their interpretations of the laws of nature, created the concept of natural laws. The natural laws as outlined in the Enlightenment hold that humans share certain universal values and liberties that cannot justly be denied. Today, people sometimes confuse the terms laws of nature (the laws that govern natural events) and natural laws (political theories that influence modern governments).
Bibliography
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Carroll, John W. "Laws of Nature." Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Center for the Study of Language and Information (CSLI), Stanford University. 26 Dec. 2010. Web. 13 Nov. 2014. http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/laws-of-nature/
Gleiser, Marcelo. "Laws of Man and Laws of Nature." NPR. NPR. 26 Jun. 2013. Web. 13 Nov. 2014. http://www.npr.org/blogs/13.7/2013/06/26/195534987/laws-of-man-and-laws-of-nature
Mittelstaedt, Peter and Paul Weingartner. Laws of Nature. New York, Springer: 2005. Print.
Swartz, Norman. "Laws of Nature." Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Web. 13 Nov. 2014. http://www.iep.utm.edu/lawofnat/