Analysis 62 (3):252-255 (
2002)
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Abstract
In a recent paper (Bird 2001), Alexander Bird argues that the law that
common salt dissolves in water is metaphysically necessary - and he does
so without presupposing dispositionalism about properties. If his argument
were sound, it would thus show that at least one law of nature is meta-
physically necessary, and it would do so without illicitly presupposing a
position (dispositionalism) that is already committed to a necessitarian
view of laws. I shall argue that Bird's argument is unsuccesful.