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Two Forms of Functional Reductionism in Physics

Lorenzetti, Lorenzo (2022) Two Forms of Functional Reductionism in Physics. [Preprint]

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Abstract

Functional reductionism characterises inter-theoretic reduction as the recovery of the upper-level behaviour described by the reduced theory in terms of the lower-level reducing theory. For instance, finding a statistical mechanical realiser that plays the functional role of thermodynamic entropy allows for establishing a reductive link between thermodynamics and statistical mechanics. This view constitutes a unique approach to reduction that enjoys a number of positive features, but has received limited attention in the philosophy of science.

This paper aims to clarify the meaning of functional reductionism in science, with a focus on physics, to define both its place with respect to other approaches to reduction and its connection to ontology. To do so, we develop and explore two alternative frameworks for functional reduction, called Syntactic Functional Reductionism and Semantic Functional Reductionism. They represent two different possible stances on the view that expand and improve the basic functional reductionist approach along different lines, and make clear how the approach works in practice. The former elaborates on David Lewis’ account, is connected with the syntactic view of theories, is committed to a logical characterisation of functional roles, and is embedded within Nagelian reductionism. The latter adopts a semantic view of theories, spells out functional roles mainly in terms of mathematical roles within the models of theories, and is expressed in terms of the related structuralist approach to reduction. The development of these frameworks has the final goal of advancing functional reductionism, to make it a fully-fledged alternative account for reduction in science.


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Item Type: Preprint
Creators:
CreatorsEmailORCID
Lorenzetti, Lorenzolorenzo.lorenzetti@bristol.ac.uk0000-0003-1565-283X
Additional Information: (Draft, please do not quote)
Keywords: Functional reduction; Reductionism; Nagelian reduction; Functionalism; Thermodynamic entropy; Inter-level relations
Subjects: General Issues > Scientific Metaphysics
General Issues > Models and Idealization
Specific Sciences > Physics
General Issues > Reductionism/Holism
Specific Sciences > Physics > Statistical Mechanics/Thermodynamics
General Issues > Structure of Theories
Depositing User: Lorenzo Lorenzetti
Date Deposited: 08 Jul 2022 04:14
Last Modified: 08 Jul 2022 04:14
Item ID: 20850
Subjects: General Issues > Scientific Metaphysics
General Issues > Models and Idealization
Specific Sciences > Physics
General Issues > Reductionism/Holism
Specific Sciences > Physics > Statistical Mechanics/Thermodynamics
General Issues > Structure of Theories
Date: July 2022
URI: https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/20850

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