Title:
The “Algorithmic Best System” Approach to Laws
Abstract:
The Best-System Approach [BSA] (Lewis 1999; Cohen and Callender 2009; Loewer 1996)
is one of the main approaches to the metaphysics of laws. In this tradition, a “system” is
a deductive system: a set of axioms and theorems derived from them. We want to set
things up in such a way that the axioms can be reasonably identifies with the laws of
that world, and the derived theorems with the rest of truths.
The Best System Approach to this desideratum is to make the axioms optimally trade
off (balance) strength and simplicity. Strength: something like how many theorems can
be derived from the axioms. Simplicity: something like very few, syntactically simple
axioms. Balance: something like judiciously trading off strength and simplicity.