For and Against Reductionism

For Reductionism

• Reductionist explanations enable a scientific approach because it makes concepts easier to test in a experimental setting. For instance, if you assume that one factor causes behaviour, it is relatively easy to isolate that one factor and perform controlled tests on the effects of that one factor.

Against Reductionism

• Human beings are very complex and it is very unlikely that all human behaviour can be explained on such a simple level.