The subject we are going to talk about is biological reductionism. It is largely theoretical matter, although its consequences are widespread. This choice or preferences is in the hands of professionals. Much of the experience that might indicate that this choice is questionable is in the hands of patients. The traditional practice, when medications do not seem to do what is expected of them, is to try different combinations. Sometimes, doctors decide early on that chemicals are not helpful, but this is neither routine nor typical. Biological reductionism proposes that (social) phenomena should be explained solely in terms of biological characteristics involved in this process.
Biological reductionism is a theory and a practice, and it affects one’s brain chemistry, one’s experience, and eventually it affects the perceptual frames within which these matter. But biological reductionism is also shortcut solution to a philosophical problem, often formulated as mind-body dualism. Meanings from the perception, like the experiences in my life, are “mental,” do not occupy space, nor have the material size and shape. Brain chemistry, in contrast, is “physical,” does occur in space and has the kind of material presence of all objects of biological science.
The language of mental life is normal, as well as rational; expressive as well as calculative. Its formal tends to deal with a tension between standards of “good” and “rational,” on the one hand, and temptation and emotion, as well as irrationalities in one’s beliefs, on the other. That tension is always space within which persons make choices. (Coleman, E., Gooren, L., & Ross, M. 1989) The language of mental life assumes human freedom to recognize standards and conform to them, or to ignore and violate them. This realm of experiential life in rich in legend and fantasy and narrative and values, wishes, and tragedies, all of which confront individuals with choices. Human freedom is palpable and central to everyone’s lives.............
