Aquinas 101 - Scientific Evidence Against Reductionism

Does Science Explain Everything?

Introduction

There is strong scientific evidence against physicalist reductionism. For instance, in biology, complex systems cannot be reduced to molecules or organs. Chemistry also has serious problems in being merely reduced to physics. Physics allows up to deeply understand other fields, but it does not seem that it can explain all of reality. As a result, Aristotelian concepts such as substantial form, act and potency, and prime matter are receiving more attention in contemporary philosophy of science. In this lesson you will learn about some scientific evidence against physicalist reductionism from the fields of biology and chemistry.

Supplemental Listening

Supplemental Reading

Selection from Edward Feser: Aristotle’s Revenge: The Metaphysical Foundations of Physical and Biological Science, pp. 332-334

Selection from the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy: "Philosophy of Chemistry: Chemical Reduction"

About the instructor

Fr. Thomas Davenport, O.P. is an American Dominican, physicist, and philosopher. Before joining the Dominican Order, he studied physics at the California Institute of Technology and earned his doctorate in physics from Stanford University studying theoretical particle physics. He was ordained a priest in 2017 and holds a Licentiate in Philosophy from the Catholic University of America, focusing on the philosophy of science and natural philosophy. In 2020, he joined the faculty of philosophy at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome while working on his second Ph.D.—this time, in philosophy. He is a frequent speaker on the intersection of faith and science and serves on the Board of Directors of the Society of Catholic Scientists.

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