Accounting Quote by Charles Sanders Peirce
“To suppose universal laws of nature capable of being apprehended by the mind and yet having no reason for their special forms, but standing inexplicable and irrational, is hardly a justifiable position. Uniformities are precisely the sort of facts that need to be accounted for. Law is par excellence the thing that wants a reason. Now the only possible way of accounting for the laws of nature, and for uniformity in general, is to suppose them results of evolution.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Logic of Science, 1878
Uniformity in nature suggests laws evolved, not arbitrarily set, implying a rational basis for natural regularities.
In simple terms: Natural laws likely arise from evolutionary processes.
Key Takeaway
Seek explanations for patterns rather than accept them as given.
Themes
philosophy
science
evolution
Mood
analytical
inquisitive
Type
philosophical
scientific
When to use this quote
- scientific research
- philosophical inquiry
- education curricula
Key Concepts
uniformity
law
reason
evolutionary theory
Questions to Reflect On
- What evidence supports evolutionary origins of physical laws?
- Can randomness coexist with evolutionary explanations?
A Different Perspective
Evolutionary explanations may not account for all anomalies.
![“[The] first postulate of the Principle of Uniformity, namely, that the laws of nature are invariant with time, is not peculiar to that principle or to geology, but is a common denominator of all science. In fact, instead of being an assumption or an ad hoc hypothesis, it is simply a succinct…” quote by M. King Hubbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/8b9/m-king-hubbert-38933_ads_the-first-postulate-of-the-principle-of_1182064.jpg)
