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Full Idea
The laws of nature are the rules according to which the effects are produced; but there must be a cause which operates according to these rules. The rules of navigation never navigated a ship.
Gist of Idea
Laws are rules for effects, but these need a cause; rules of navigation don't navigate
Source
Thomas Reid (Essays on Active Powers 1: Active power [1788], 6)
Book Ref
Reid,Thomas: 'Inquiry and Essays', ed/tr. Beanblossom /K.Lehrer [Hackett 1983], p.313
A Reaction
Very nice. No enquirer should be satisfied with merely discovering patterns; the point is to explain the patterns.