Getting over Atomism: Functional Decomposition in Complex Neural Systems

Functional decomposition is an important goal in the life sciences, and central to mechanistic explanation explanatory reduction. A growing literature philosophy of science, however, has challenged decomposition-based notions explanation. ‘Holists’ posit that complex systems exhibit context-sensitivity, dynamic interaction, network dependence, these properties undermine decomposition. They then infer from failure I argue complexity, so construed, only incompatible with one notion decomposition, which call ‘atomism’, not writ large. Atomism posits function ascriptions must be made parts minimal reference surrounding system. Complexity does indeed falsify atomism, but contend there a weaker, ‘contextualist’ fully compatible holists cite. Contextualism suggests can shift external context, interactions other might help determine their context-appropriate functions. This still admits functional within given context. will give examples based on oscillatory multiplexing neuroscience. If contextualism feasible, holist inferences are faulty—one cannot presence complexity mechanism, reductionism.