4 ms·

I think it requires some level of creationistic thinking to not recognize these principles and forces as nature itself.

• kybernetikos 8y ago
  Nobody is saying that they aren't part of nature. The distinction is between nature-the-principles and nature-manifest. Together these comprise Nature. The law of gravity is a different kind of thing to a rock. It is not a physical object, it describes the ways physical objects behave. The number 3 is a different kind of thing to 3 apples. It is not a physical-natural object, it describes aspects of nature. Its the difference between the rules of chess and the board and pieces. Both are essential parts of the game 'chess' but we can usefully distinguish them when we want to be more precise.