212 Pages
by
Routledge
212 Pages
by
Routledge
212 Pages
by
Routledge
Also available as eBook on:
Conservative Reductionism sets out a new theory of the relationship between physics and the special sciences within the framework of functionalism. It argues that it is wrong-headed to conceive an opposition between functional and physical properties (or functional and physical descriptions, respectively) and to build an anti-reductionist argument on multiple realization. By contrast, (a) all... Read more
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 6. Conclusion
Biography
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.
'[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
