The Issue of Reductionism in the Philosophy of Biology Cover Image

Zagadnienie redukcjonizmu w filozofii biologii
The Issue of Reductionism in the Philosophy of Biology

Author(s): Joanna Luc
Subject(s): Epistemology, Philosophy of Science
Published by: Copernicus Center Press
Keywords: reductionism; antireductionism; eliminativism; physicalism; philosophy of biology; complex systems;

Summary/Abstract: The aim of this article was to present one of the methods of reconciling of epistemological antireductionism and ontological physicalism, which explains differences between sciences, through an ontological picture of the most general structure of reality. The main thesis held that accepting this perspective allows us to achieve the above-mentioned reconcilement. First, the main arguments for and against physical reductionism, were described before the ontological assumptions were presented; then the assumptions was analysed in the light of this ontological construction as well as some facts from the fields of methodology and the history of natural sciences. Finally, some conclusions were drawn from the presented vision. They were connected with he epistemological status of analogy and methodological postulate of simplicity.

  • Issue Year: 2013
  • Issue No: 52
  • Page Range: 179-201
  • Page Count: 23
  • Language: Polish
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