Single Idea 6148

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

Full Idea

Human organisms have non-redundant causal powers, and so can exercise downward causation.

Clarification

A causal power is 'redundant' if something else also does the job

Gist of Idea

Human organisms can exercise downward causation

Source

Trenton Merricks (Objects and Persons [2003], §4.VII)

Book Reference

Merricks,Trenton: 'Objects and Persons' [OUP 2003], p.116


A Reaction

The hallmark of property dualism. This notion needs a lot more expansion and exploration than Merricks gives it, and I don't think it will be enough to provide 'free will', or even, as Merricks hopes, to place humans in a distinct ontological category.