Crowther, Karen (2018) What is the point of reduction in science? [Preprint]

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Abstract

The numerous and diverse roles of theory reduction in science have been insufficiently explored in the philosophy literature on reduction. Part of the reason for this has been a lack of attention paid to reduction2 (successional reduction)---although I here argue that this sense of reduction is closer to reduction1 (explanatory reduction) than is commonly recognised, and I use an account of reduction that is neutral between the two. This paper draws attention to the utility---and incredible versatility---of theory reduction. A non-exhaustive list of various applications of reduction in science is presented, some of which are drawn from a particular case-study, being the current search for a new theory of fundamental physics. This case-study is especially interesting because it employs both senses of reduction at once, and because of the huge weight being put on reduction by the different research groups involved; additionally, it presents some unique uses for reduction---revealing, I argue, the fact that reduction can be of specialised and unexpected service in particular scientific cases. The paper makes two other general findings: that the functions of reduction that are typically assumed to characterise the different forms of the relation may instead be understood as secondary consequences of some other roles; and that most of the roles that reduction plays in science can actually also be fulfilled by a weaker relation than (the typical understanding of) reduction.

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Item Type:	Preprint
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Crowther, Karen karen.crowther@unige.ch 000-0003-1558-4814
Additional Information:	Forthcoming in Erkenntnis
Keywords:	Diachronic reduction; Synchronic reduction; Limiting reduction; Theory reduction; Inter-theory relations; Correspondence principle; Nickles; reduction2; explanation
Subjects:	General Issues > Explanation General Issues > Reductionism/Holism General Issues > Theory Change
Depositing User:	Dr. Karen Crowther
Date Deposited:	05 Nov 2018 18:30
Last Modified:	05 Nov 2018 18:30
Item ID:	15257
Subjects:	General Issues > Explanation General Issues > Reductionism/Holism General Issues > Theory Change
Date:	2018
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/15257

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• What is the point of reduction in science? (deposited 03 Nov 2018 20:45)
  • What is the point of reduction in science? (deposited 05 Nov 2018 18:30) [Currently Displayed]

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