Difference between revisions of "Reductionism"
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==Origin== | ==Origin== | ||
Reduction - Middle French reduction, redduction, redduccion, French réduction [[action]] of coming closer, coming [[together]] (c1290 in Old French as redution), restoration to a previous state, re-[[establishment]] (1300) | Reduction - Middle French reduction, redduction, redduccion, French réduction [[action]] of coming closer, coming [[together]] (c1290 in Old French as redution), restoration to a previous state, re-[[establishment]] (1300) | ||
| − | *Reduction-''ism''[ | + | *Reduction-''ism''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1943 1943] |
==Definitions== | ==Definitions== | ||
*1: [[explanation]] of [[complex]] life-[[science]] [[processes]] and [[phenomena]] in terms of the [[laws]] of [[physics]] and [[chemistry]]; also : a [[theory]] or [[doctrine]] that complete reductionism is possible | *1: [[explanation]] of [[complex]] life-[[science]] [[processes]] and [[phenomena]] in terms of the [[laws]] of [[physics]] and [[chemistry]]; also : a [[theory]] or [[doctrine]] that complete reductionism is possible | ||
| − | *2: a [[procedure]] or [[theory]] that reduces [[complex]] [[data]] and phenomena to [[simple]] [[terms]] | + | *2: a [[procedure]] or [[theory]] that reduces [[complex]] [[data]] and phenomena to [[simple]] [[terms]] |
| + | <center>For lessons on the related [[topic]] of '''''[[Materialism]]''''', follow [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Category:Materialism '''''this link'''''].</center> | ||
==Description== | ==Description== | ||
| − | '''Reductionism''' can mean either (a) an approach to [[understanding]] the [[nature]] of [[complex]] things by reducing them to the [[interactions]] of their [[parts]], or to [[simpler]] or more fundamental [[things]] or (b) a [[philosophical]] position that a [[complex]] [[system]] is nothing but the [[sum]] of its [[parts]], and that an account of it can be reduced to accounts of [[individual]] constituents. | + | '''Reductionism''' can mean either (a) an approach to [[understanding]] the [[nature]] of [[complex]] things by reducing them to the [[interactions]] of their [[parts]], or to [[simpler]] or more fundamental [[things]] or (b) a [[philosophical]] position that a [[complex]] [[system]] is nothing but the [[sum]] of its [[parts]], and that an account of it can be reduced to accounts of [[individual]] constituents. This can be said of objects, [[phenomena]], [[explanations]], theories, and [[meanings]]. |
| − | Reductionism strongly [[reflects]] a certain [[perspective]] on [[causality]]. In a reductionist [[framework]], [[phenomena]] that can be explained completely in [[terms]] of [[relations]] between other more fundamental [[phenomena]], are called [ | + | Reductionism strongly [[reflects]] a certain [[perspective]] on [[causality]]. In a reductionist [[framework]], [[phenomena]] that can be explained completely in [[terms]] of [[relations]] between other more fundamental [[phenomena]], are called [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epiphenomena epiphenomena]. Often there is an implication that the epiphenomenon exerts no [[causal]] [[agency]] on the [[fundamental]] [[phenomena]] that [[explain]] it. |
| − | Reductionism does not preclude the [[existence]] of what might be called [ | + | Reductionism does not preclude the [[existence]] of what might be called [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emergence emergent phenomena], but it does imply the [[ability]] to [[understand]] those [[phenomena]] completely in terms of the [[processes]] from which they are [[composed]]. This reductionist [[understanding]] is very [[different]] from that usually implied by the [[term]] 'emergence', which typically [[intends]] that what emerges is more than the [[sum]] of the [[processes]] from which it emerges. |
| − | [[Religious]] reductionism generally consists of [[explaining]] religion by boiling it down to certain [[Material|nonreligious]] [[causes]]. A few examples of reductionistic attempts to [[explain]] the [[presence]] of [[religion]] are: the view that religion, could be reduced to [[humanity]]’s [[conceptions]] of [[Morality|right and wrong]]; the [[belief]] that [[religion]] is fundamentally a [[primitive]] attempt at [[controlling]] our [[environments]]; or in the opinion of religion, as a way to [[explain]] the [[existence]] of a [[physical]] world. Typical religious reductionists are such [[theorists]] as [ | + | [[Religious]] reductionism generally consists of [[explaining]] religion by boiling it down to certain [[Material|nonreligious]] [[causes]]. A few examples of reductionistic attempts to [[explain]] the [[presence]] of [[religion]] are: the view that religion, could be reduced to [[humanity]]’s [[conceptions]] of [[Morality|right and wrong]]; the [[belief]] that [[religion]] is fundamentally a [[primitive]] attempt at [[controlling]] our [[environments]]; or in the opinion of religion, as a way to [[explain]] the [[existence]] of a [[physical]] world. Typical religious reductionists are such [[theorists]] as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Burnett_Tylor Edward Burnett Tylor] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Frazer James Frazer]. [[Sigmund Freud]]'s [[idea]] that [[religion]] is nothing more than an [[illusion]], or even a mental illness, and the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marxism Marxist] view that [[religion]] is "the sigh of the [[oppressed]]," providing only "the [[illusory]] [[happiness]] of [[the people]]," are two other [[influential]] reductionist [[explanations]] of religion. |
| + | |||
| + | There is a certain [[degree]] of reductionism in the [[social sciences]], which often try to [[explain]] whole areas of [[social]] [[activity]] as mere subfields of their own field. As an example, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marxism Marxist economists] often try to explain [[politics]] as subordinated to [[economy]], and [[sociologists]] sometimes see [[economy]] and [[politics]] as mere sub-spheres of [[society]].[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reductionism] | ||
| − | |||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
*'''''[[Materialism]]''''' | *'''''[[Materialism]]''''' | ||
Latest revision as of 02:32, 13 December 2020
Origin
Reduction - Middle French reduction, redduction, redduccion, French réduction action of coming closer, coming together (c1290 in Old French as redution), restoration to a previous state, re-establishment (1300)
- Reduction-ism1943
Definitions
- 1: explanation of complex life-science processes and phenomena in terms of the laws of physics and chemistry; also : a theory or doctrine that complete reductionism is possible
- 2: a procedure or theory that reduces complex data and phenomena to simple terms
Description
Reductionism can mean either (a) an approach to understanding the nature of complex things by reducing them to the interactions of their parts, or to simpler or more fundamental things or (b) a philosophical position that a complex system is nothing but the sum of its parts, and that an account of it can be reduced to accounts of individual constituents. This can be said of objects, phenomena, explanations, theories, and meanings.
Reductionism strongly reflects a certain perspective on causality. In a reductionist framework, phenomena that can be explained completely in terms of relations between other more fundamental phenomena, are called epiphenomena. Often there is an implication that the epiphenomenon exerts no causal agency on the fundamental phenomena that explain it.
Reductionism does not preclude the existence of what might be called emergent phenomena, but it does imply the ability to understand those phenomena completely in terms of the processes from which they are composed. This reductionist understanding is very different from that usually implied by the term 'emergence', which typically intends that what emerges is more than the sum of the processes from which it emerges.
Religious reductionism generally consists of explaining religion by boiling it down to certain nonreligious causes. A few examples of reductionistic attempts to explain the presence of religion are: the view that religion, could be reduced to humanity’s conceptions of right and wrong; the belief that religion is fundamentally a primitive attempt at controlling our environments; or in the opinion of religion, as a way to explain the existence of a physical world. Typical religious reductionists are such theorists as Edward Burnett Tylor and James Frazer. Sigmund Freud's idea that religion is nothing more than an illusion, or even a mental illness, and the Marxist view that religion is "the sigh of the oppressed," providing only "the illusory happiness of the people," are two other influential reductionist explanations of religion.
There is a certain degree of reductionism in the social sciences, which often try to explain whole areas of social activity as mere subfields of their own field. As an example, Marxist economists often try to explain politics as subordinated to economy, and sociologists sometimes see economy and politics as mere sub-spheres of society.[1]
