Reductionism is the most natural thing in the world to grasp. It’s simply the belief that “a whole can be understood completely if you understand its parts, and the nature of their sum.” No one in her left brain could reject reductionism.
ADBOC. Literally, that’s true (but tautologous), but it suggests that understanding the nature of their sum is simple, which it isn’t. Knowing the Standard Model gives hardly any insight into sociology, even though societies are made of elementary particles.
The interesting thing is that Hofstadter doesn’t seem to argue here that reductionism is true but that it’s a powerful meme that easily gets into people brain.
Douglas Hofstadter
ADBOC. Literally, that’s true (but tautologous), but it suggests that understanding the nature of their sum is simple, which it isn’t. Knowing the Standard Model gives hardly any insight into sociology, even though societies are made of elementary particles.
That quote is supposed to be paired with another quote about holism.
Q: What did the strange loop say to the cow? A: MU!
-- Knock knock.
-- Who is it?
-- Interrupting koan.
-- Interrupting ko-
-- MU!!!
The interesting thing is that Hofstadter doesn’t seem to argue here that reductionism is true but that it’s a powerful meme that easily gets into people brain.