Reductive explanation¶
Wimsatt, W. C. (1974). Reductive explanation: A functional account. PSA: Proceedings of the Biennial Meeting of the Philosophy of Science Association, 671-710.
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Primes¶
- Hierarchical Decomposability
- This converts an opaque "complex system" into a structured object with named tiers and explicit coupling-strength claims at each scope, a reframing Wimsatt (1974) develops through his analysis of how hierarchical decomposition makes complexity epistemically tractable across the special sciences.
This sourceDevelops a functional account of how hierarchical decomposition into levels of organization makes complex systems epistemically tractable across the special sciences, formalizing the conditions under which level-at-a-time reductive explanation succeeds or fails.
- This converts an opaque "complex system" into a structured object with named tiers and explicit coupling-strength claims at each scope, a reframing Wimsatt (1974) develops through his analysis of how hierarchical decomposition makes complexity epistemically tractable across the special sciences.
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