Issues And Debates Flashcards
Perspectives
Unlike theories - cannot be refuted
We evaluate perspectives according …
To their utility
Perspective differ in a number of ways including :
Subject matter
Methods of analysis
Types of explanation
Reductionism
Complex phenomena can be best understood by reducing them to separate and simpler parts
(Davey 2014)
Emergence
A characteristic that is present when it is observed in its entirety
Types of reductionism
Physiological
Biological
Experimental
Machine
Physiological reductionism
Amenable to scientific explanations, provides simple explanations
Biological reductionism
Explain human behaviour in terms of simpler animals.
Use simple animals to find genes for behaviour
Experimental reductionism
Right way to investigate behaviour is to isolate particular factors influencing behaviour
Machine reductionism
Refers to the use of computer models to explain behaviour.
“Mind as computer”
Advantages of reductionism
Scientific
Concise explanations
Some successful interventions
Disadvantages of reductionism
May lose features of the phenomenon of interest.
May be used for a particular purpose - by those who are biased
Free will
Choice.
Behaviour that is unconstrained.
Voluntary behaviour
Determinism
All behaviour has identifiable causes.
Future behaviour is predictable
Soft determinism
A compromise position.
In the absence of compulsion people have a degree of choice.
