The Concept of Reduction

Language: English

Published by Springer International Publishing Sep 2016, 2016

3319345524 / 9783319345529

Series: Book 108 of 134 - Philosophical Studies

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Seller: BuchWeltWeit Ludwig Meier e.K., Bergisch Gladbach, GermanyBuchWeltWeit Ludwig Meier e.K.

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This item is printed on demand - it takes 3-4 days longer - Neuware -This volume investigates the notion of reduction. Building on the idea that philosophers employ the term 'reduction' to reconcile diversity and directionality with unity, without relying on elimination, the book offers a powerful explication of an 'ontological', notion of reduction the extension of which is (primarily) formed by properties, kinds, individuals, or processes. It argues that related notions of reduction, such as theory-reduction and functional reduction, should be defined in terms of this explication. Thereby, the book offers a coherent framework, which sheds light on the history of the various reduction debates in the philosophy of science and in the philosophy of mind, and on related topics such as reduction and unification, the notion of a scientific level, and physicalism.The book takes its point of departure in the examination of a puzzle about reduction. To illustrate, the book takes as an example the reduction of water. If water reduces to H2O, then water is identical to H2O - thus we get unity. Unity does not come at the price of elimination - claiming that water reduces to H2O, we do not thereby claim that there is no water. But what about diversity and directionality Intuitively, there should be a difference between water and H2O, such that we get diversity. This is required for there to be directionality: in a sense, if water reduces to H2O, then H2O is prior to, or more basic than water. At least, if water reduces to H2O, then H2O does not reduce to water. But how can this be, if water is identical to H2O The book shows that the application of current models of reduction does not solve this puzzle, and proposes a new coherent definition, according to which unity is tied to identity, diversity is descriptive in nature, and directionality is the directionality of explanation. 240 pp. Englisch.

Seller Inventory # 9783319345529

Title
The Concept of Reduction
Author
Raphael van Riel
Publisher
Springer International Publishing Sep 2016
Publication year
2016
Condition
Neu
Binding
Taschenbuch
Language
English
ISBN 10
3319345524
ISBN 13
9783319345529
Item weight
371 grams
Dimensions
235x155x14 mm
Series
Book 108 of 134: Philosophical Studies

BuchWeltWeit Ludwig Meier e.K.

Bergisch Gladbach, Germany

5-star seller

AbeBooks seller since January 11, 2012

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BuchWeltWeit Ludwig Meier e.K.

Germany