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Birth
Pennsylvania, USA -
How the Laws of Physics Lie
This essay postulates a controversial thesis that the fundamental laws of physics does not state the truths about the world. She leans towards phenomenological laws- ones where phenomena can be observed. ." Encyclopedia of Philosophy. . Encyclopedia.com. 1 Oct. 2020 . (2020, October 09). Retrieved October 09, 2020, from https://www.encyclopedia.com/humanities/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/cartwright-nancy-1944 -
Nature's Capacities and Their Measurement
The main thesis in the book is to argue that science cannot be understood without assuming real capacities in the world. She breaks apart David Hume's argument on capacities violation on empiricism and proposes empiricism should be the approach to understand capacities. -
Dappled World
Cartwright attacks fundamentalism-the idea that there is one unique set of laws applying to everything. She advocates for realism vs fundamentalism. Her approach to explaining nature should be based on model, not laws. Cartwright, N. (1999). Fundamentalism versus the patchwork of laws. In The Dappled World: A Study of the Boundaries of Science (pp. 23-34). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. doi:10.1017/CBO9781139167093.002 -
Philosophical Achievement Award
Ms. Cartwright received the Martin R. Lebowitz prize for Philosophical Achievement of the Phi Beta Kappa Society. -
Lifetime Scholarly Achievement Award
Ms. Cartwright was presented with the Carl Gustav Hempel Award by the Philosophy of Science Association. She was the fourth recipient, and the first woman. The award recognized her achievement in philosophy of science and scholarly excellence. King, A. (2019, May 29). Philosopher Nancy Cartwright Honored for Lifetime Scholarly Achievement. Retrieved October 09, 2020, from https://ucsdnews.ucsd.edu/pressrelease/philosopher_nancy_cartwright_honored_for_lifetime_scholarly_achievement -
Lecture
Please see the following link to view her lecture on when to trust or criticize science.
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