-Thomas Nagel, Philosopher at New York University
His Glory and My Good: A New Song from City Alight
5 months ago
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Quote from Nagel
"Scientism and reductionism are responsible for much of the self-deception of our time."
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I agree and would add that self-deception is why reductionism fails to fully explain the nature of things. Bias contaminates reductive analysis. It also fails because it presupposes linearity, when complexity is nonlinear. Positive and negative feedback loops are difficult to comprehend when looking at reduced components rather than holistically, which leads to an appreciation of the complexity of life. It is an irreducible conundrum: which came first, RNA or DNA?--one requires the other for its existence. This is why extreme reductionists (chemical evolutionists) eventually look to extra-terrestrial origins for our existence (SETI) because the paradox of RNA and DNA is unsolvable apart from God.
ReplyDeleteReductionism is dangerous in allowing man to jump to erroneous conclusions: cholestrol is harmful and foods with cholestrol must be avoided (recent studies contradict this conclusion and suggest inflamation in conjunction with cholestrol is harmful) Reductionism does not address all the complex factors in disease and leads to prescribing harmful drugs based on erroneous conclusions arrived at from looking at one compound, and its perceived effects.
http://www.truthquest2.com/cholesterolmyth.htm
from the link,
Cholesterol is an essential component in the body. It is found in all the cells of the body, particularly in the brain and nerve cells. Body cells are continually dying and new ones being made. Cholesterol is a major building block from which cell walls are made. Cholesterol is also used to make a number of other important substances: hormones (including the sex hormones), bile acids and, in conjunction with sunlight on the skin, vitamin D 3 . The body uses large quantities of cholesterol every day and the substance is so important that, with the exception of brain cells, every body cell has the ability to make it. I'm sure this study also only scratches the surface.
Reductionism gave us margarine, GMOs, infant formula, and the list goes on. . .
In conclusion, our human knowledge is pathetic
in the face of His Wondrous Works and a healthy respect for falling short of "all the facts" is needed.