back to ideas for this text


Single Idea 17088

[from 'Explaining Explanation' by David-Hillel Ruben, in 14. Science / D. Explanation / 2. Types of Explanation / j. Explanations by reduction ]

Full Idea

The reduction of one science to another has often been taken as paradigmatic of explanation.

Gist of Idea

Reducing one science to another is often said to be the perfect explanation

Source

David-Hillel Ruben (Explaining Explanation [1990], Ch 5)

Book Reference

Ruben,David-Hillel: 'Explaining Explanation' [Routledge 1990], p.175


A Reaction

It seems fairly obvious that the total reduction of chemistry to physics would involve the elimination of all the current concepts of chemistry. Could this possibly enhance our understanding of chemistry? I would have thought not.