Special sciences (or: The disunity of science as a working hypothesis)

摘要: A typical thesis of positivistic philosophy science is that all true theories in the special sciences should reduce to physical long run. This intended be an empirical thesis, and part evidence which supports it provided by such scientific successes as molecular theory heat explanation chemical bond. But philosophical popularity reductivist program cannot explained reference these achievements alone. The development has witnessed proliferation specialized disciplines at least often their reduction physics, so widespread enthusiasm for can hardly a mere induction over its past successes. I think many philosophers who accept reductivism do primarily because they wish endorse generality physics vis d sciences: roughly, view events fall under laws any are hence physics. 1 For philosophers, saying basic must have seemed two ways same thing, latter doctrine come standard construal former. In what follows, shall argue this considerable confusion. What traditionally been called 'the unity science' much stronger, less plausible, than If important. Though reductionism doctrine, play regulative role practice. Reducibility taken constraint upon acceptability sciences, with curious consequence more succeed, ought disappear. Methodological problems about psychology, particular, arise just way: assumption subject-matter psychology imply psychological theories, principle