Genetics and ReductionismWith the advent of the Human Genome Project there have been many claims for the genetic origins of complex human behavior including insanity, criminality, and intelligence. But what does it really mean to call something 'genetic'? This is the fundamental question that Sahotra Sarkar's book addresses. The author analyses the nature of reductionism in classical and molecular genetics. He shows that there are two radically different kinds of reductionist explanation: genetic reduction (as found in classical genetics) and physical reduction (found in molecular genetics). This important book clarifies the meaning of the term 'genetic', shows how molecular studies have affected genetics, and provides the philosophical background necessary to understand the debates over the Human Genome Project. It will be of particular interest to professionals and students in the philosophy of science, the history of science, and the social studies of science, medicine, and technology. |
Contents
Introduction | 1 |
11 Whats genetic? | 3 |
12 Alleles loci and traits a note on biological terminology | 5 |
13 Explanation and reduction | 9 |
14 Determinism and prediction | 10 |
15 Outline | 13 |
Types of reduction Formal issues | 16 |
21 Formal and substantive issues | 18 |
44 Conceptual problems associated with H | 82 |
45 Problems of estimation | 90 |
46 The abuse of H | 91 |
Appendix 41 Theory | 93 |
Appendix 42 Analysis of the model of Table 441 | 97 |
Reduction and classical genetics | 101 |
51 Mendels laws | 104 |
52 Biometry and mendelism | 105 |
22 Ontological and epistemological questions | 20 |
23 Theories versus mechanisms | 24 |
24 The form of explanation | 29 |
25 The form of the connections | 32 |
26 Supervenience | 37 |
Types of reduction Substantive issues | 39 |
31 Explanation | 41 |
32 Substantive criteria and types of reduction | 43 |
33 Fundamentalism | 46 |
34 Approximations | 48 |
35 Hierarchical organization | 53 |
36 Wholes and parts | 55 |
37 Epistemological eliminativism | 60 |
38 Ontological eliminativism | 62 |
39 Reduction versus construction | 64 |
310 Reduction and scientific method | 65 |
311 The value of reductions | 67 |
312 The unity of science | 68 |
The obsession with heritability | 71 |
41 Definitions | 76 |
Nature nurture and reduction | 78 |
43 The use of h | 81 |
53 Segregation analysis | 109 |
54 Linkage analysis | 116 |
55 Caveats | 123 |
56 Reduction | 127 |
57 New directions | 132 |
Reduction and molecular biology | 136 |
61 The molecularization of biology | 137 |
62 Examples | 142 |
63 Approximations and the physics of macromolecules | 146 |
64 The status of genetics | 150 |
65 The molecular definition of a gene | 156 |
66 Classical and molecular genetics | 159 |
67 The decline of dominance | 168 |
68 Conflations | 174 |
Concluding polemics | 175 |
71 Gene organism and environment | 176 |
72 Whats genetic? | 181 |
73 Conclusions | 187 |
Notes | 191 |
223 | |
242 | |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
alleles approximations argued assumed assumptions attempt behavior biometry called cell Chapter chromosomes claim classical genetics context criteria defined definition detail discussed distinction dominance eliminativism entities environment environmental epistemological Equation example explanatory F-realm F-rules factors genes genetic basis genetic explanation genetic reductionism genome genotype Haldane hemophilia heritability analysis hierarchy human Human Genome Project hydrophobic identical important independent assortment individual inherited instance interactions involved least linkage analysis linkage group loci locus logical empiricists macromolecules mechanisms meiosis Mendelian Mendelism minimal interpretation model of reduction molecular biology molecular genetics molecules Moreover Nagel narrow heritability norms of reaction noted ontological organism particular pedigrees phenotypic traits philosophical physical reductionism population potentially problems properties protein question realm reason recombination reducing theory reductionism reductionist relation relevant require role Sarkar Schaffner scientific segregation analysis sense statistical strategy strong reductions structure supervenience tion types of reduction variables variance Wimsatt