Scientific realism and the historical emergence of consciousness
Siyaves Azeri
Theory & Psychology June 1, 2021 DOI: 10.1177/09593543211006197 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Commentary Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that Arocha's (hylo)-realist approach to studying behaviour and consciousness adopts the theses that reality consists of concrete, determinate things, is orderly and lawful, and has an emergent character. The author proposes that furthering the critical power of the realist position requires adopting the additional thesis that human societies have emergent properties and are determined by historically specific laws. |
Abstract
In “Scientific Realism and the Issue of Variability in Behavior,” J. F. Arocha (2021) proposes a (hylo)-realist method of studying behaviour and consciousness. Arocha adopts the thesis that reality consists of concrete (determinate) things, is orderly and lawful, and that it has an emergent character. I propose that furthering the critical power of the realist position requires the adoption of the thesis that human societies also have emergent properties and are determined by historically specific laws.