Single Idea 7043

[catalogued under 17. Mind and Body / E. Mind as Physical / 7. Anti-Physicalism / b. Multiple realisability]

Full Idea

Cases of multiple realisability are typically cases in which some predicate ('is red', 'is in pain') applies to an object in virtue of that object's possession of any of a diverse range of properties.

Gist of Idea

Multiple realisability is actually one predicate applying to a diverse range of properties

Source

John Heil (From an Ontological Point of View [2003], 14.8)

Book Reference

Heil,John: 'From an Ontological Point of View' [OUP 2005], p.160


A Reaction

If the properties are diverse, why does one predicate apply to them? I take it that in the case of the pain, the predicate is ambiguous in applying to the behaviour or the phenomenal property. Same behaviour is possible with many qualia.