Reductionism (Noun)
Meaning 1
The analysis of complex things into simpler constituents.
Classification
Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents.
Examples
- The biologist's reductionism approach allowed her to break down the complex organism into its individual cells and study their functions.
- Critics of the economist's theory argued that it relied too heavily on reductionism, failing to account for the complex interactions between different market forces.
- The physicist's use of reductionism led to a major breakthrough in understanding the behavior of subatomic particles.
- Some argue that reductionism is a necessary tool in scientific inquiry, allowing researchers to isolate and study individual components of complex systems.
- The philosopher's critique of reductionism centered on its inability to fully capture the emergent properties of complex systems that arise from the interactions of their individual parts.
Hypernyms
Meaning 2
A theory that all complex systems can be completely understood in terms of their components.
Classification
Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents.
Examples
- The philosopher argued that reductionism oversimplifies the intricacies of human behavior and neglects the impact of social environments.
- The biologist's use of reductionism led to groundbreaking discoveries about the molecular mechanisms of genetic inheritance.
- Critics of the economic model claimed that its reductionism ignored the complexities of global markets and the role of human emotions.
- The artist's exploration of the human condition explicitly rejected reductionism, instead embracing the messy and often contradictory nature of human experience.
- The physicist's reductionism led to a deeper understanding of the fundamental laws governing the behavior of subatomic particles.