Identity Statements and Microreductions

Abstract

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Towards a General Theory of Reduction. Part II: Identity in Reduction

“…(Cf. Enc [95], Ager et al [81].) But despite its popularity in the literature, it is much less obvious whether, and how, temperature is to be identified as mean molecular kinetic energy, precisely because of the complexities of the relationship.…”

“…Causey, we have seen, makes much of the superiority of identities in reduction on the grounds that they themselves need no explanation, indeed cannot be explained. Others, most interestingly Enc [95], have disputed these latter claims. Enc invites consideration of the following case:…”

“…are descriptions of states of affairs such that A and B are in static equilibrium and any change in A would be the only cause of the change in B; or (iii) 'A' and 'B' are descriptions of states of affairs such that A and B are in static equilibrium and a change in a certain essential component of A would be the only cause of the corresponding change in B (or of the change in an essential component of B). ( [95], p. 293).…”

“…Enc's main theses are (i) that successful reductions first require the appropriate generative relations to hold between the properties involved and (ii) only after the reductions have been thus achieved is any claim of contingent property identity even proper, let alone warranted ( [95], pp. 295-6).…”

On the Reduction of Genetics to Molecular Biology

“…Just what the nature of bridge laws is is a problem which has exercised philosophers considerably (see Causey 1972 andEnc 1976), but most of that debate can be ignored here. Whatever a bridge law is, it must allow for the derivation of something in the reduced science from something in the reducing science.…”