Reductionist Doubts

Abstract

According to reductionism, every complex phenomenon can and should be explained in terms of the simplest possible entities and mechanisms. The parts determine the whole. This approach has been an outstanding success in science, but this essay will point out ways in which it could nevertheless be giving us wrong ideas and holding back progress. For example, it may be impossible to understand key features of the universe such as its pervasive arrow of time and remarkably high degree of isotropy and homogeneity unless we study it holistically—as a true whole. A satisfactory interpretation of quantum mechanics is also likely to be profoundly holistic, involving the entire universe. The phenomenon of entanglement already hints at such a possibility (Somewhat more technical material that appeared as endnotes in my essay entry now appear as footnotes. I have also added some further footnotes, identified by 2014 at their beginning, to bring my original essay up to date, and an addendum at the end. In a few cases, I have made very minor changes to the original text for the sake of clarity or to correct a type. These are not indicated.).