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Multiple realization and methodological pluralism

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Abstract

Multiple realization was once taken to be a challenge to reductionist visions, especially within cognitive science, and a foundation of the “antireductionist consensus.” More recently, multiple realization has come to be challenged on naturalistic grounds, as well as on more “metaphysical” grounds. Within cognitive science, one focal issue concerns the role of neural plasticity for addressing these issues. If reorganization maintains the same cognitive functions, that supports claims for multiple realization. I take up the reorganization involved in language dysfunctions to deal with questions concerned with multiple realization and neural plasticity. Beginning with Broca’s case for localization and the nineteenth century discussion of “reorganization,” and returning to more recent evidence for neural plasticity, I argue that, in the end, there is substantial support for multiple realization in cognitive systems; I further argue that this is wholly consistent with a recognition of methodological pluralism in cognitive science.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Philosophy, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, 45221, USA

    Robert C. Richardson

  2. Department of Cognitive Science, Universität Osnabrück, Osnabruck, Germany

    Robert C. Richardson

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  1. Robert C. Richardson
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Correspondence to Robert C. Richardson.

Additional information

I have had the opportunity to discuss these ideas with many people over many years. Most recently, Ken Aizawa, Bill Bechtel, John Bickle, Peggy DesAutels, Tom Polger, Larry Shapiro, Jackie Sullivan, and Larry Jost. The ideas were discussed at a workshop at the University of Cincinnati, Centenary College, the University of Georgia, and the Universität Osnabrück. In each case, they have led me to modify my views. The views also benefited from discussion at the Philosophy of Science Association in 2007, where Polger, Shapiro, Sullivan and I shared the stage, discussing related topics. Those papers are forthcoming in Philosophy of Science.

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Richardson, R.C. Multiple realization and methodological pluralism. Synthese 167, 473–492 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11229-008-9387-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11229-008-9387-6

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