Conservative Reductionism

ISBN-13: 9780815371892 / Angielski / Miękka / 2017 / 204 str.

Michael Esfeld; Christian Sachse

Opis

All properties that exist in the world are functional properties in the sense of causal properties. The authors base a conservative ontological reductionism on this claim and develop functional reduction into a fully-fledged theory reduction through functional sub-types that are coextensive with physical types, providing case studies from biology.

Recenzje

'[T]his book is recommended as a thought-provoking re-assessment of ontology for contemporary physics, and of functional reduction in the special sciences.' – Cliff Hooker, University of Newcastle, Australia, Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews

Spis treści

Introduction  1.The Dilemma of Functionalism  2. The Metaphysics of Causal Structures  3. The Theory of Evolution and Causal Structures in Biology  4. Case Study: Classical and Molecular Genetics  5. Conservative Functional Reduction  Conclusion

O autorze

Michael Esfeld is Professor of Philosophy of Science at the University of Lausanne, Switzerland. His research interests include the metaphysics of science, the philosophy of mind, and the philosophy of physics.

Christian Sachse is Senior Lecturer in history and philosophy of science at the University of Lausanne. His research interests include the metaphysics of science, the philosophy of mind, and the philosophy of biology.