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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