Discovering complexity : decomposition and localization as strategies in scientific research

Title
  1. Discovering complexity : decomposition and localization as strategies in scientific research / William Bechtel and Robert C. Richardson.
Published by
  1. Princeton, N.J. : Princeton University Press, ©1993.
Author
  1. Bechtel, William.

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StatusFormatTextAccessUse in libraryCall numberQ180.55.M4 B4 1993Item locationOff-site

Details

Additional authors
  1. Richardson, Robert C., 1949-
Description
  1. xiv, 286 pages : illustrations; 25 cm
Summary
  1. "Discovering Complexity offers an account of scientific discovery that aims to be psychologically and historically realistic. Drawing on cases from a number of life sciences, including biochemistry, genetics, and neuroscience, this study of the dynamics of theory development focuses on two psychological heuristics, decomposition and localization. William Bechtel and Robert Richardson identify a number of "choice-points" that scientists confront in developing mechanistic explanations and describe how different choices result in divergent explanatory models."--BOOK JACKET. "According to Bechtel and Richardson's analysis, decomposition is the attempt to differentiate components of a system, while localization assigns responsibility for specific tasks to these components. The book examines in detail the usefulness of these heuristics in biological science, but also discusses their fallibility: underlying their use is the sometimes false assumption that nature is significantly decomposable and hierarchical. When a system does not appear to be decomposable, a classic response has been to abandon the pursuit of mechanistic explanation and to settle for accurate descriptions of phenomena. More recently, with advances in mathematical modeling, an alternative has emerged. Described in this work is an approach to explanation that appeals to interactions between simple components, rather than assigning functions to individual components."--Jacket.
Subject
  1. Research > Methodology
  2. Decomposition method
  3. Localization theory
  4. Complexity (Philosophy)
  5. System theory
  6. Research Design
  7. Science > methods
  8. Systems Theory
  9. 08.35 philosophy of science
  10. 30.02 philosophy and theory of the exact sciences
  11. System theory
  12. Decomposition method
  13. Localization theory
  14. Research > Methodology
  15. Complexiteit
  16. Onderzoek
  17. Recherche
  18. Complexité (philosophie)
Contents
  1. Pt. I. Scientific Discovery and Rationality. Ch. 1. Cognitive strategies and Scientific Discovery. 1. Rationalizing Scientific Discovery. 2. Procedural Rationality. Ch. 2. Complex Systems and Mechanistic Explanations. 1. Mechanistic Explanation. 2. Decomposition and Localization. 3. Hierarchy and Organization. 4. Conclusion: Failure of Localization -- Pt. II. Emerging Mechanisms. Ch. 3. Identifying the Locus of Control. 1. Introduction: Identifying System and Context. 2. External Control: The Environment as a Control. 3. Internal Control: The System as a Control. 4. Fixing on a Locus of Control: The Cell in Respiration. 5. Conclusion: Localization of Function. Ch. 4. Direct Localization. 1. Introduction: Relocating Control. 2. Phrenology and Cerebral Localization. 3. Competing Models of Cellular Respiration. 4. Conclusion: Direct Localization and Competing Mechanisms. Ch. 5. The Rejection of Mechanism. 1. Introduction: Mechanism and Its Opponents. 2. Flourens and the Integrity of the Nervous System. 3. The Vitalist Opposition to Mechanistic Physiology. 4. Conclusion: Settling for Descriptions -- Pt. III. Elaborating Mechanisms. Ch. 6. Complex Localization. 1. Introduction: Constraints on Localization. 2. Top-Down Constraints. 3. Bottom-Up Constraints. 4. Conclusion: The Rise and Decline of Decomposability. Ch. 7. Integrated Mechanisms. 1. Introduction: Replacing a Direct Localization. 2. Direct Localization of Fermentation in Zymase. 3. A Complex Linear Model of Fermentation. 4. An Integrated System Responsible for Fermentation. 5. Conclusion: The Discovery of Integration. Ch. 8. Reconstituting the Phenomena. 1. Introduction: Biochemical Genetics. 2. Classical Genetics. 3. Developmental Genetics. 4. One Gene/One Enzyme. 5. Conclusion: Reconstituting the Phenomena -- Pt. IV. Emergent Mechanism. Ch. 9. "Emergent" Phenomena in Interconnected Networks. 1. Introduction: Dispensing with Modules. 2. Hierarchical Control: Hughlings Jackson's Analysis of the Nervous System. 3. Parallel Distributed Processing and Cognition. 4. Distributed Mechanisms for Genomic Regulation. 5. Conclusion: Mechanistic Explanations without Functional Decomposition and Localization. Ch. 10. Constructing Causal Explanations. 1. Decomposition and Localization in Perspective. 2. Four Constraints on Development. 3. Conclusion: Looking Forward.
Owning institution
  1. Princeton University Library
Bibliography (note)
  1. Includes bibliographical references and index.