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reductionism

Pronunciation: [rɪˈdʌkʃənɪzəm]

Word

Learn how to use reductionism in a sentence: 9 audio examples across 3 meanings.

Context: “philosophy”

(noun) a way of thinking that explains complex things by breaking them down into simpler parts. Imagine if you want to understand how a car works, instead of studying the whole car, you look at each piece like the engine or the wheels.

Example

Many scientists use reductionism to learn how cells function by studying individual molecules.

Example

Some people believe that reductionism ignores the bigger picture, like how a car is more than just its individual parts.

Example

Why do some scientists prefer reductionism instead of looking at systems as a whole?

Context: “science”

(noun) the idea that understanding the most basic parts of something will help understand the whole thing. For example, a teacher might think that if they understand how each chemical works, they can understand all of chemistry.

Example

Reductionism helped researchers discover new treatments by focusing on small components of diseases.

Example

Critics argue that reductionism can oversimplify complex human behaviors.

Example

How does reductionism play a role in medical research?

Context: “psychology”

(noun) the belief that mental processes can be explained only by looking at physical brain functions, like how emotions relate to brain activity. It's like saying that to understand how we feel, we must look at how our brain works.

Example

Some psychologists advocate for reductionism to explain how stress affects the brain.

Example

Many argue that reductionism overlooks how feelings are influenced by our experiences and environment.

Example

Can reductionism fully explain the complexities of human emotions?

How to pronounce reductionism

Pronunciation: [rɪˈdʌkʃənɪzəm]

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