<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
the logical empiricist