Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site pyuxn.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!gamma!pyuxww!pyuxn!rlr From: rlr@pyuxn.UUCP (Rich Rosen) Newsgroups: net.philosophy Subject: ONLY reductionism (when "only" is appropriate) Message-ID: <1179@pyuxn.UUCP> Date: Wed, 3-Oct-84 13:06:19 EDT Article-I.D.: pyuxn.1179 Posted: Wed Oct 3 13:06:19 1984 Date-Received: Sat, 6-Oct-84 03:41:50 EDT References: <383@wucs.UUCP> Organization: Bell Communications Research, Piscataway N.J. Lines: 44 > A lot of writers in this newsgroup have expressed their belief in various > forms of reductionism -- that is, explaining one thing in terms of another. > Examples: explaining human behavior in terms of chemical makeup of the > brain, or in terms of genetics (sociobiology) and/or environment (behav- > iorism). When the larger thing being described (the mind/brain) is composed of the smaller (chemicals), it is appropriate to delve to the maximum level of depth to find what is "really" going on. > I have no objection to this habit per se (although I think these > theories are often a thin cover for ideology -- especially sociobiology). > But I do object when words like "only", "just", and "merely" are thrown > around too easily. The words "only", "just", and "merely" are appropriate when compared to other grander (and less tenable) notions that proclaim the existence of something "more". > The mistake of supposing that determinism undermines free will > is due to the larger mistake of assuming that to explain things by a > "reduction" (analysis in terms of something else) is to explain them away. > It is here that the words "only", etc. are slipped in without justification. See above. > Human society is "only" a vehicle for the reproduction of genes; a person's > behavior is "just" a response to stimuli; a diamond is "merely" carbon. > Drop the words of disparagement and you may well have true statements. > Leave them in, and you have cynicism masquerading as scientific realism. Again, the words are appropriate in comparison to another notion that assumes something more. As for the three examples, in no particular order, human society is a human constructed entity that is what humans make it to be, a diamond is a rather special and unique arrangement of carbon, and a person's behavior is in fact, more than just a response to stimuli, because it has wider reaching results. Its causes, however, are still JUST responses to stimuli, which manifest themselves through chemical action. The whole is often more than the sum of its parts. But this does not change the nature of the parts that make it up. -- AT THE TONE PLEASE LEAVE YOUR NAME AND NET ADDRESS. THANK YOU. Rich Rosen pyuxn!rlr