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Single Idea 14302
[filed under theme 8. Modes of Existence / B. Properties / 7. Emergent Properties
]
Full Idea
Though lead is said to be composed of molecules of lead, these molecules are not leaden in the everyday sense of the word. This suggests that a property need not be present at the microscopic level in order to be present at the macroscopic level.
Gist of Idea
A lead molecule is not leaden, and macroscopic properties need not be microscopically present
Source
Stephen Mumford (Dispositions [1998], 02.3)
Book Ref
Mumford,Stephen: 'Dispositions' [OUP 1998], p.34
A Reaction
[He quotes Joske] This strikes me as a key principle to grasp about properties. One H2O molecule is not water, any more than a brick is a house! Nearly all properties (or all?) are 'emergent' (in the sensible, non-mystical use of that word).
The
14 ideas
with the same theme
[new properties only found at higher levels of existence]:
3471
|
Some properties depend on components, others on their relations
[Searle]
|
3472
|
Fully 'emergent' properties contradict our whole theory of causation
[Searle]
|
2320
|
Properties can have causal powers lacked by their constituents
[Kim]
|
3291
|
Emergent properties appear at high levels of complexity, but aren't explainable by the lower levels
[Nagel]
|
3432
|
Is weight a 'resultant' property of water, but transparency an 'emergent' property?
[Kim]
|
3434
|
Emergent properties are 'brute facts' (inexplicable), but still cause things
[Kim]
|
2469
|
The world is full of messy small things producing stable large-scale properties (e.g. mountains)
[Fodor]
|
4083
|
If mental properties are emergent they add a new type of causation, and physics is not complete
[Crane]
|
4082
|
The distinction between 'resultant' properties (weight) and 'emergent' properties is a bit vague
[Crane]
|
4612
|
Complex properties are just arrangements of simple properties; they do not "emerge" as separate
[Heil]
|
4615
|
Complex properties are not new properties, they are merely new combinations of properties
[Heil]
|
18513
|
Emergent properties will need emergent substances to bear them
[Heil]
|
14302
|
A lead molecule is not leaden, and macroscopic properties need not be microscopically present
[Mumford]
|
14553
|
Weak emergence is just unexpected, and strong emergence is beyond all deduction
[Mumford/Anjum]
|