Changes

*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]]  

==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.[1] This can be said of objects, [[phenomena]], [[explanations]], theories, and [[meanings]].

'''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 [http://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 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 [http://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.

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, [http://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]].[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reductionism]

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, [http://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]].[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reductionism]

==See also==

==See also==

*'''''[[Materialism]]'''''

*'''''[[Materialism]]'''''