Abstract
Biological
knowledge
does
not
fit
the
image
of
science
that
philosophers
have
developed.
Many
argue
that
biology
has
no
laws.
Here
I criticize
standard
normative
accounts
of
law
and
defend
an
alternative,
pragmatic
approach.
I argue
that
a multidimensional
conceptual
framework
should
replace
the
standard
dichotomous
law/
accident
distinction
in
order
to
display
important
differences
in
the
kinds
of
causal
structure
found
in
nature
and
the
corresponding
scientific
representations
of those
structures.
To
this
end
I
explore
the
dimensions
of
stability,
strength,
and
degree
of
abstraction
that
characterize
the
variety
of
scientific
knowledge
claims
found
in
biology
and
other
sciences