<P> There is ongoing debate in the philosophy of science concerning ceteris paribus statements . On the logical empiricist view , fundamental physics tends to state universal laws , whereas other sciences , such as biology , psychology , and economics , tend to state laws that hold true in normal conditions but have exceptions , ceteris paribus laws ( cp laws ) . The focus on universal laws is a criterion distinguishing fundamental physics as fundamental science , whereas cp laws are predominant in most other sciences as special sciences , whose laws hold in special cases . This distinction assumes a logical empiricist view of science . It does not readily apply in a mechanistic understanding of scientific discovery . There is reasonable disagreement as to whether mechanisms or laws are the appropriate model , though mechanisms are the favored method . </P>
<P> There is ongoing debate in the philosophy of science concerning ceteris paribus statements . On the logical empiricist view , fundamental physics tends to state universal laws , whereas other sciences , such as biology , psychology , and economics , tend to state laws that hold true in normal conditions but have exceptions , ceteris paribus laws ( cp laws ) . The focus on universal laws is a criterion distinguishing fundamental physics as fundamental science , whereas cp laws are predominant in most other sciences as special sciences , whose laws hold in special cases . This distinction assumes a logical empiricist view of science . It does not readily apply in a mechanistic understanding of scientific discovery . There is reasonable disagreement as to whether mechanisms or laws are the appropriate model , though mechanisms are the favored method . </P>
all things being equal ... is an expression from which school of thought
all things being equal ... is an expression from which school of thought
the logical empiricist
the logical empiricist