methodological reductionism

Methodological reductionism is a philosophical view that suggests complex phenomena can be explained by understanding their simpler, more basic components. This approach is widely accepted in science, particularly in fields like molecular biology, where complex biological processes are explained through the behavior of molecules.1

For example, the principles of Mendelian genetics, which explain observable traits, can be understood through the molecular mechanisms of DNA and RNA. This doesn't replace Mendelian genetics but rather integrates it into a more fundamental framework. While ontological reductionism (the belief that entities are composed of simpler entities) and theoretical reductionism (the idea that older theories can be derived from newer ones) have faced more debate, methodological reductionism remains a cornerstone of scientific inquiry.12