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Full-Text Articles in Philosophy of Science
Non-Reductionist Science: Assessing Metabolism And Entropy With Systems Theory And Hegelian Logic, Tre Schumacher
Non-Reductionist Science: Assessing Metabolism And Entropy With Systems Theory And Hegelian Logic, Tre Schumacher
Undergraduate Research
This paper will offer Hegelian logic, its connection with systems theory, and how it can serve as a replacement for reductionism in the sciences. First, the connection will be made between formal logic and reductionism. Second, systems theory will be introduced as an alternative to reductionism. Third, Hegelian logic and its connection with systems theory will be demonstrated. Fourth, a non-reductionist mode of science will be offered, wherein Hegelian logic and systems theory can work alone or together, in replacement of reductionism and formal logic. Last, a brief sample of this mode of science will be shown in an examination …
Evolution And The Second Law Of Thermodynamics: Effectively Communicating To Non-Technicians, Alexander Schreiber, Steven Gimbel
Evolution And The Second Law Of Thermodynamics: Effectively Communicating To Non-Technicians, Alexander Schreiber, Steven Gimbel
Philosophy Faculty Publications
Given the degree of disbelief in the theory of evolution by the wider public, scientists need to develop a collection of clear explanations and metaphors that demonstrate the working of the theory and the flaws in antievolutionist arguments. This paper presents tools of this sort for countering the anti-evolutionist claim that evolutionary mechanisms are inconsistent with the second law of thermodynamics. Images are provided to replace the traditional misunderstanding of the law, i.e., “everything always gets more disordered over time,” with a more clear sense of the way in which entropy tends to increase allowing a thermally isolated system access …