Deulofeu, Roger and Suárez, Javier (2023) Pluralism and Complexity Without Integration? A Critical Appraisal of Mitchell’s Integrative Pluralism. [Preprint]

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Abstract

This paper critically examines Mitchell’s integrative pluralism. Integrative pluralism is the view that scientific explanations should primarily aim to integrate descriptions from different ontological levels. We contend that, while integrative pluralism is a fundamental strategy in contemporary science, there are specific reasons why one should not expect integration in the sense developed by Mitchell to be the optimal strategy and the one that scientists should always aim for. Drawing on some examples from contemporary biology, we argue that integration is sometimes neither epistemically desirable, nor ontologically achievable. We conclude that integrative pluralism should thus be limited to a specific class of complex systems but cannot be generalised as the preferable research strategy without further information about the epistemic practices of the scientific community or the ontology of the system under investigation.

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Item Type:	Preprint
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Deulofeu, Roger roger.deulofeu@gmail.com 0000-0002-4554-9756 Suárez, Javier javier.suarez@uniovi.es 0000-0001-5851-2277
Keywords:	Biological Complexity; Mechanism; Philosophy of the Life Sciences; Scientific Integration; Scientific Explanation
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Biology Specific Sciences > Complex Systems General Issues > Explanation General Issues > Philosophers of Science General Issues > Reductionism/Holism
Depositing User:	Dr Javier Suárez
Date Deposited:	15 Aug 2023 14:03
Last Modified:	15 Aug 2023 14:03
Item ID:	22412
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Biology Specific Sciences > Complex Systems General Issues > Explanation General Issues > Philosophers of Science General Issues > Reductionism/Holism
Date:	11 August 2023
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/22412

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• Pluralism and Complexity Without Integration? A Critical Appraisal of Mitchell’s Integrative Pluralism. (deposited 15 Aug 2023 14:03) [Currently Displayed]
  • Pluralism and Complexity Without Integration? A Critical Appraisal of Mitchell’s Integrative Pluralism. (deposited 05 Sep 2023 20:52)

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