economics is not a hard science - eviltoast
  • curiousaur@reddthat.com
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    1 year ago

    Hard sciences are reducible. Pharmacology reduces to biology, reduces to chemistry, reduces physics.

    The hard science of the brain and mind is neuroscience.

    • ParsnipWitch@feddit.de
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      1 year ago

      ? That would still be biology and therefore reducible to chemistry and physics.

      The approach of “everything is reducible to physics” is actually a philosophical theory that tries to describe what is reality. Is the material world everything that exists? Or are our thoughts (our knowing of things) actually a different reality? Etc.

      In the end, the differentiation into the different sciences is simply an aid for people. I wouldn’t pay it that much attention because it really doesn’t tell you anything.

    • bemenaker@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Being reducible is part of it, but I think reproducible is more important. Psychology is not reproducible. You can get statistical equivalents, but not exact reproduction of results.

      • curiousaur@reddthat.com
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        1 year ago

        I think being reducible is all of it. Even if it’s reproducable you can know THAT something is true, but not WHY it’s true. I think the why, or at least the ability and intention to get there, makes something a hard science.