Introduction
Every time you sit in your mathematics class, your teacher always begins with an alien equation that almost looks like gibberish until they divide the equation into several easier parts which together constructs the math equation. It is the concept of reductionism of philosophy that has been used since the beginning of education and converting things into simpler language for the comprehension of a broader range of audience. The idea behind reductionism is that any complicated matter is nothing out of reach but is a sum of individual concepts that easier for the average mind to grasp. It is widely used in every education system and our daily lives to make things easier for the mass audience than keeping it to a specific number.
Discussion
Reductionism has been helpful in teaching complex matters in similar language which has raised awareness among people and spread messages that could otherwise not be understood. The Ontological Reductionism is an idea that complicated topics and the academic or non-academic concepts of science or any other field can be explained when divided into easier parts that sum up to make the idea on the whole. It becomes easier to comprehend and is also easier to remember.
Eric R Kandel (2016), in his book, relates complex science matters to art using the philosophy of reductionism. He highlights the benefits of reductionism in the field of science and medicine. He talks about how the eye for uncomplicated parts in a complex theme of science that was out of reach earlier, has led to more awareness and made science accessible.
However, the concept of Holism rejects reductionism and emphasizes the importance of complicated topics and holist approach to understand them. Brown and Smith (2003), in their book, sheds light on the limits of reductionism and the fact that the science of life cannot always be put into similar words or concepts. This argument is further supported by Primas (2013), who claims that it is impossible to define certain scientific theories and developments in nontechnical language.
Working Thesis
Reductionism is a philosophical concept that refers to the division of complex ideas into individual parts that are easier to grasp and comprehend, which has made education more accessible.
References
Brown, T. and Smith, L. (2003). Reductionism and the development of knowledge. Hove: Psychology.
Kandel, E. R. (2016). Reductionism in art and brain science: Bridging the two cultures. Columbia University Press.
Primas, H. (2013). Chemistry, quantum mechanics and reductionism: perspectives in theoretical chemistry (Vol. 24). Springer Science & Business Media.
Annotated Bibliography
Brown, T. and Smith, L. (2003). Reductionism and the development of knowledge. Hove: Psychology.
The book highlights the concept of philosophy, i.e., reductionism and how it has helped in the understanding of complex matters. Brown and Smith refers to certain themes of science and the field of medicine to be impracticable and beyond the application of reductionism. The theories of several science fields are used such as biology, psychology and sociology, which they say are beyond the simple study of the human body and mind but a much more in-depth understanding which can be only approached holistically.
Kandel, E. R. (2016). Reductionism in art and brain science: Bridging the two cultures. Columbia University Press.
Eric Kandel supports the idea of reductionism and, in his book, crafts his argument using several examples from history of science and education and how they have been converted into simpler language for a comprehension of the majority. Moreover, he relates science to art with the application of reductionism. Kandel sheds light upon the contribution of reductionism towards the evolution of art and the idea of abstraction. The book shows that the human mind understands things better when put into simpler words and ideas which has made them connect with their surroundings and study them.
Primas, H. (2013). Chemistry, quantum mechanics and reductionism: perspectives in theoretical chemistry (Vol. 24). Springer Science & Business Media.
Primas uses simple theories of modern science and the finding of research to make his argument stronger against the contemporary world approach of abstraction and reductionism towards complicated concepts. He believes that certain matter can never be converted into nontechnical languages such as Chemistry and Quantum Mechanics. Furthermore, the author describes the recent developments in the molecular matter, which are best described and understood in technical language.
