Definition:
Reductionism is the oversimplification of complex phenomena by explaining them solely in terms of a single factor or narrow framework.
Usage Context:
Used in policy discourse, economic modelling, behavioural analysis, scientific communication, and institutional decision-making.
Critical Note:
While simplification can aid understanding, reductionism becomes harmful when it erases interaction, complexity, or lived experience. In institutional contexts, it legitimises blunt solutions to nuanced problems and obscures unintended consequences.
Related Terms:
Conceptual Flattening, Context Stripping, Efficiency Framing, Language Compression, Class Erasure