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Marr and reductionism.

John Bickle1

  • 1Department of Philosophy and Religion, Mississippi State University; University of Mississippi Medical Center.

Topics in Cognitive Science
|March 17, 2015
PubMed
Summary

David Marr's computational approach to understanding cognition was initially defended against reductionism. However, modern neuroscience now explains cognitive functions through causal mechanisms, challenging Marr's original criticisms.

Keywords:
Causal-mechanistic explanationConvergent 3 analysisElectrophysiologyMolecular and cellular cognitionNon-intervention experimentsReductionistic approach

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Area of Science:

  • Cognitive Science
  • Neuroscience
  • Philosophy of Mind

Background:

  • David Marr's influential three-level method emphasizes the computational level for understanding cognitive systems.
  • Marr critiqued reductionistic approaches, arguing they only described cellular activity rather than explaining cognitive functions.
  • This historical context frames the debate between Marr's methodology and reductionist neuroscience.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To re-evaluate David Marr's critique of reductionism in light of contemporary neuroscience.
  • To assess whether Marr's criticisms of reductionism remain valid given recent advancements.
  • To explore the current explanatory power of reductionist neuroscience compared to Marr's framework.

Main Methods:

  • Metascientific analysis of reductionistic neuroscience over the past two decades.
  • Comparative evaluation of explanatory approaches in cognitive science and neuroscience.
  • Philosophical argumentation regarding the merits of different scientific methodologies.

Main Results:

  • Marr's criticisms of earlier reductionist approaches are no longer fully applicable.
  • Contemporary neuroscience directly explains cognition using causal-mechanistic approaches, distinct from Marr's recommendations.
  • The success of current reductionist neuroscience necessitates a new defense of Marr's method and its explanatory advantages.

Conclusions:

  • While Marr correctly identified limitations in past reductionism, modern neuroscience has evolved.
  • Cognitive scientists must now defend Marr's framework against the explanatory successes of contemporary reductionist neuroscience.
  • Reconciling Marr's influential method with current scientific practice presents an ongoing challenge.