Unified Theories and Unified Science

Abstract

Section A of this chapter contains a brief review of some previous conceptions of the unity of science. In Section B I present and discuss some conditions which must be satisfied by a dynamic theory in order for that theory to be unified. In Section C an argument is presented to justify the use of microreductions as a unifying procedure. The principal conclusion is: If T₂ can be micrareduced to T₁, then the only satisfactory way to unify these two theories is by a microreduction to T₁, or to a theory which is a modified formulation of T₁, This result provides a rational foundation for a program for the unification of science based on successive microreductions of various theories.