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What is the difference between reductionism and determinism? (issues and debates)
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I always get confused between these two debates! Aren't they basically just the same thing?
They both say that a theory is being reduced down to its simplest form?
They both say that a theory is being reduced down to its simplest form?
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#2
Reductionism is where the causality is explained by breaking down the process by interacting parts.
Determinism is where the events are bound by causality in such a way that any state (of an object or event) is completely, or at least to some large degree,determined by prior states.
Determinism is where the events are bound by causality in such a way that any state (of an object or event) is completely, or at least to some large degree,determined by prior states.
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#4
(Original post by nbhjbmnjn)
I always get confused between these two debates! Aren't they basically just the same thing?
They both say that a theory is being reduced down to its simplest form?
I always get confused between these two debates! Aren't they basically just the same thing?
They both say that a theory is being reduced down to its simplest form?
Initially I thought they were pretty much exactly the same but there is some difference.
Reductionism reduces explanation of behaviour into simple components parts.
And determism is the doctrine that all events, including human action, are ultimately determined by causes regarded as external to the will. For example, if a child was abused by his/her parents then this event will
DETERMINE their behaviour (social/environmental determism). Also, if someone had a mutation on their MOA gene then this DETERMINES their aggressive behaviour or mental ******mess. On the other hand, if something is reductionist it doesn't mean it is solely biological. Anything can be reductionist, e.g if 1 IQ test is used to test someone's intelligence then that is reductionist. Also a single explanation for a behaviour can lead to a single way of treating abnormal behaviour, or intervention, which again is reductionist. If you say a criminal behaviour is due to the environment that is reductiinist, a holistic approach would say the environment and thrill affect the criminal actions.
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#5
(Original post by random_matt)
By the way, is this sociology or psychology?
By the way, is this sociology or psychology?
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#6
Determinism - our behaviour is out of our control (maybe remember it as our behaviour being DETERMINED for us, such as by our environment or upbringing (environmental determinism) biology, genes etc. (biological determinism), past trauma and experiences (psychic determinism), or that we have some elements of control (soft determinism).)
Reductionism - our behaviour is REDUCED to one, or as few causes as possible,
while ignoring other potential causes (e.g. like all biological explanations (biological reductionism) or behaviour is seen as a response to a stimulus (environmental reductionism); an example is how twin studies never show 100% confidence rate and so other factors must be involved and lends support for the diathesis-stress model; another example is the cognitive approach to depression, which states depression is rooted in faulty thinking, and ignores the biological factors such as how there are genes linked to depression).
The difference between them is that determinism refers to the level of control we have on our behaviour, while reductionism refers to the level of explanation factors have in causing our, or elements of, our behaviour.
Reductionism - our behaviour is REDUCED to one, or as few causes as possible,
while ignoring other potential causes (e.g. like all biological explanations (biological reductionism) or behaviour is seen as a response to a stimulus (environmental reductionism); an example is how twin studies never show 100% confidence rate and so other factors must be involved and lends support for the diathesis-stress model; another example is the cognitive approach to depression, which states depression is rooted in faulty thinking, and ignores the biological factors such as how there are genes linked to depression).
The difference between them is that determinism refers to the level of control we have on our behaviour, while reductionism refers to the level of explanation factors have in causing our, or elements of, our behaviour.
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