How Philosophy of Mind Needs Philosophy of Chemistry
J. Earley
Hyle December 1, 2008 DOI: 10.5840/hyle20081411 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Philosophy of mind |
| Key points | Argues that philosophy of chemistry can help resolve issues in philosophy of mind through extended mereology, testing singularities in reduction, and demonstrating downward causation. |
Abstract
By the 1960s many, perhaps most, philosophers had adopted ‘physicalism’ – the view that physical causes fully account for mental activities. However, controversy persists about what counts as ‘physical causes’. ‘Reductive’ physicalists recognize only microphysical (elementary-particle-level) causality. Many, perhaps most, physicalists are ‘non-reductive’ – they hold that entities considered by other ‘special’ sciences have causal powers. Philosophy of chemistry can help resolve main issues in philosophy of mind in three ways: developing an extended mereology applicable to chemical combination; testing whether ‘singularities’ prevent reduction of chemistry to microphysics; and demonstrating ‘downward causation’ in complex networks of chemical reactions.
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| Looking for the Self: Phenomenology, Neurophysiology and Philosophical Significance of Drug-induced Ego Dissolution | 2017 | Theoretical or philosophical paper |