Single Idea 14556

[catalogued under 17. Mind and Body / D. Property Dualism / 4. Emergentism]

Full Idea

A problem for strong emergence is that it opens the way for top-down causation if, for instance, our consciousness is causally productive of physical events.

Gist of Idea

Strong emergence seems to imply top-down causation, originating in consciousness

Source

S.Mumford/R.Lill Anjum (Getting Causes from Powers [2011], 4.3d)

Book Reference

Anjum,R.J./Mumford,S.: 'Getting Causes from Powers' [OUP 2011], p.101


A Reaction

This is what most fans of 'emergent' consciousness would love, presumably because it makes humans really important (nay, godlike!) in the scheme of things. It take it to be based on a hopelessly simplistic view of what is going on around here.

Related Idea

Idea 14553 Weak emergence is just unexpected, and strong emergence is beyond all deduction [Mumford/Anjum]