Seminar METHODOLOGICAL INDIVIDUALISM AND REDUCTIONISM

The talk analyzes the relationship between methodological individualism (MI) and reductionism
as understood within contemporary literature in English. Three points are developed. First, I argue
that two different kinds of reductionist interpretation of MI can be distinguished: one in terms of
psychological reductionism and the other in terms of semantic reductionism. Second, I explain
that both of these interpretations are unconvincing. Third, I discuss and criticize the view that MI
should be replaced by a new antireductionist approach understood as a middle ground between
holism and MI.