Full Idea
In the hierarchy of reduction, when we investigate questions in biology, we have to assume the laws of chemistry but not of economics. We could never find a law of biology that contradicted something in physics or in chemistry.
Gist of Idea
Studying biology presumes the laws of chemistry, and it could never contradict them
Source
Michèle Friend (Introducing the Philosophy of Mathematics [2007], 3.1)
Book Reference
Friend,Michèle: 'Introducing the Philosophy of Mathematics' [Acumen 2007], p.51
A Reaction
This spells out the idea that there is a direction of dependence between aspects of the world, though we should be cautious of talking about 'levels' (see Idea 7003). We cannot choose the direction in which reduction must go.
Related Idea
Idea 7003 There are levels of organisation, complexity, description and explanation, but not of reality [Heil]