Theoretical Reflections on Reductionism and Systemic Research Issues: Dark Systems and Systemic Domains

Abstract

In this article, we explore some theoretical issues related to reductionism and systems. Fundamentally, reductionism neglects that a system can acquire properties. Among various possible reductionist approaches, we consider the reduction of sufficient conditions to necessary conditions in systems, the reduction of emergence to functioning, and the general linearizability of non-linear systems. Furthermore, we consider the reductionistic deductibility of the macroscopic from the microscopic (as a matter of scalarity without intermediary emergence). We examine “reductionistic interacting” as it relates to multiple sequenced interactions being zippable into a single interaction. We consider the theoretical dynamic mixed usage of reductionism and non-reductionism. We then elaborate on theoretical systemic issues around opaque dark systems (as non-evident systems requiring both change in scale and change sequences). We investigate how a phenomenon can be improperly modeled as a system. This is often undertaken for the convenience of an observer (who takes advantage of the readily available approaches and models). We elaborate on the interdependence and possible equivalence of these phenomena’s theoretical incompleteness and the logical openness of their modeling. We also consider the theoretical issue of systemic domains as space. Here, an entering entity only has access to certain actions and degrees of freedom due to the predominance of a previous systemic phenomenon. We conclude by considering the centrality of theoretical research in systems science.