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NL888 Posted 12 years ago
Grammar
It would be simpler, more natural, less demanding of explanation?
Does "for hime it would be simpler, more natural, less demanding of explanation" mean "for him, when talking about the explanation, this would be a simple, more natural, less demanding (explanation)"?
Context:
Given that the number of particles of any one type, say electrons,
is large, Swinburne thinks it too much of a coincidence that so
many should have the same properties. One electron, he could
stomach. But billions and billions of electrons, all with the same
properties, that is what really excites his incredulity. For him it
would be simpler, more natural, less demanding of explanation, if
all electrons were different from each other. Worse, no one electron
should naturally retain its properties for more than an instant at a
time; each should change capriciously, haphazardly and fleetingly
from moment to moment. That is Swinburne's view of the simple,
native state of affairs. Anything more uniform (what you or I would
call more simple) requires a special explanation. 'It is only because
electrons and bits of copper and all other material objects have the
same powers in the twentieth century as they did in the nineteenth
century that things are as they are now.'
Context:
Given that the number of particles of any one type, say electrons,
is large, Swinburne thinks it too much of a coincidence that so
many should have the same properties. One electron, he could
stomach. But billions and billions of electrons, all with the same
properties, that is what really excites his incredulity. For him it
would be simpler, more natural, less demanding of explanation, if
all electrons were different from each other. Worse, no one electron
should naturally retain its properties for more than an instant at a
time; each should change capriciously, haphazardly and fleetingly
from moment to moment. That is Swinburne's view of the simple,
native state of affairs. Anything more uniform (what you or I would
call more simple) requires a special explanation. 'It is only because
electrons and bits of copper and all other material objects have the
same powers in the twentieth century as they did in the nineteenth
century that things are as they are now.'
Top answer
All people are different; no two, not even twins are identical. The same goes for leaves, stones, individual animals, snowflakes, and most natural things. But electrons don't follow this rule, so that demands a special explanation.
- All people are different; no two, not even twins are identical.
- The same goes for leaves, stones, individual animals, snowflakes, and most natural things.
- But electrons don't follow this rule, so that demands a special explanation.
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6 Answers
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All people are different; no two, not even twins are identical.
The same goes for leaves, stones, individual animals, snowflakes, and most natural things.
But electrons don't follow this rule, so that demands a special explanation.
The same goes for leaves, stones, individual animals, snowflakes, and most natural things.
But electrons don't follow this rule, so that demands a special explanation.
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Thanks for replying.
What does "it" refer to in "it would be simpler, more natural, less demanding of explanation"?
What does "it" refer to in "it would be simpler, more natural, less demanding of explanation"?
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A "dummy it" as in: It is nice today, it is 9 am, or wouldn't it be nice if you wrote your cousin a letter.
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In the context, "it" seems to refer to "all electrons were different from each other".
Am I on the right track?
Am I on the right track?
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NL888 For him it would be simpler, more natural, less demanding of explanation, if ...He would find it simpler and more natural, and he would find that it required less explanation if ...
CJ
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NL888"it" seems to refer to "all electrons were different from each other"Yes. More or less. Strictly speaking "it" is the proposition "if all electrons were different from each other".
For him "if all electrons were different from each other" would be simpler, ...
In other words:
For him "electrons being different
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