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Single Idea 16055

[filed under theme 7. Existence / D. Theories of Reality / 6. Physicalism ]

Full Idea

Any broadly materialistic metaphysical position needs to claim that physics is causally complete.

Gist of Idea

Materialism requires that physics be causally complete

Source

Terence Horgan (From Supervenience to Superdupervenience [1993], §6)

Book Ref

-: 'Mind' [-], p.19


A Reaction

Since 'physics' is a human creation, I presume he means that physical reality is causally complete. The interaction problem that faced Descartes seems crucial - how could something utterly non-physical effect a physical change?


The 6 ideas from Terence Horgan

'Superdupervenience' is supervenience that has a robustly materialistic explanation [Horgan,T]
'Global' supervenience is facts tracking varying physical facts in every possible world [Horgan,T]
Physicalism needs more than global supervenience on the physical [Horgan,T]
Materialism requires that physics be causally complete [Horgan,T]
Instrumentalism normally says some discourse is useful, but not genuinely true [Horgan,T]
Don't just observe supervenience - explain it! [Horgan,T]