Reduction as a value: the case of genetic reductionism in evolutionary theory

Abstract

At least three meanings of the word “reduction” have been theorized by philosophers: epistemic, ontological and methodological reductions. In this paper, I suggest a fourth meaning to complement the literature: the axiological meaning. Theorizing reduction as an epistemic value refers to the normative pull that reduction sometimes has on scientific reasoning. The example of genetic reductionism in evolutionary biology shows that in cases of underdetermination of theory by evidence, reduction can influence theory acceptance just like other values do. I suggest that reduction, in this context, is involved in value a trade-off that also feature parsimony and explanatory power.