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Single Idea 14599

[from 'Causation and Laws of Nature' by Jonathan Schaffer, in 7. Existence / C. Structure of Existence / 2. Reduction ]

Full Idea

Theoretical reduction concerns terms found in a theory; Definitional reduction concerns concepts found in the mind; Ontological reduction is independent of how we conceptualize entities, or theorize about them, and is about reality.

Gist of Idea

Three types of reduction: Theoretical (of terms), Definitional (of concepts), Ontological (of reality)

Source

Jonathan Schaffer (Causation and Laws of Nature [2008], 1)

Book Reference

'Contemporary Debates in Metaphysics', ed/tr. Sider/Hawthorne/Zimmerman [Blackwell 2008], p.83


A Reaction

An Aristotelian definition refers to reality, rather than to our words or concepts.