Reductionism and the micro–macro mirroring thesis
pp. 209-226
Abstract
This paper concerns reductionist views about psychology and the special sciences more generally. I identify a metaphysical assumption in reductionist views which I dub the ‘Micro–Macro Mirroring Thesis’. The Mirroring Thesis says that the relation between the entities of any legitimate higher-level science and their lower-level realizers is similar to that between the entities of thermodynamics and statistical mechanics. I argue that reductionism implies the Thesis, and that the Thesis is not a priori. It is more difficult to tell whether the Thesis is true, and I indicate some relevant considerations.
Publication details
Published in:
Moffett Marc, Ray Greg (2011) The 37th annual meeting of the society for exact philosophy. Synthese 181 (2).
Pages: 209-226
DOI: 10.1007/s11229-010-9798-z
Full citation:
Hiddleston Eric (2011) „Reductionism and the micro–macro mirroring thesis“. Synthese 181 (2), 209–226.