Introduction

Abstract

This introductory chapter sets out the aim of this book: to investigate the metaphysical assumptions that underlie a pattern of ‘reductive explanation’ whereby we attempt to explain or predict the behaviour of a complex system by studying the system’s parts in isolation. It is argued that the success of reductive explanation is evidence for the truth of these metaphysical assumptions, and it is suggested that the ontology assumed by reduction can be put to use to shed light on the metaphysics of powers, causation, causal models, laws, emergence, and even normative ethics. This task is taken up in the remainder of the book.