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Single Idea 2320

[filed under theme 8. Modes of Existence / B. Properties / 7. Emergent Properties ]

Full Idea

Macroproperties can, and in general do, have their own causal powers, powers that go beyond the causal powers of their microconstituents.

Clarification

E.g. frozen water molecules being slippery

Gist of Idea

Properties can have causal powers lacked by their constituents

Source

Jaegwon Kim (Mind in a Physical World [1998], §3 p.085)

Book Ref

Kim,Jaegwon: 'Mind in the Physical World' [MIT 2000], p.85

A Reaction

I don't see why the macro-powers 'go beyond' the sum of the micro-powers. Admittedly one molecule can't be slippery, but slipperiness can be totally reduced to molecule behaviour.

The 22 ideas from 'Mind in a Physical World'

13314 Protagoras says arguments on both sides are always equal [Kim, by Seneca]
2308 Identity theory was overthrown by multiple realisations and causal anomalies [Kim]
2309 Non-Reductive Physicalism relies on supervenience [Kim]
2310 Supervenience is linked to dependence [Kim]
2311 Maybe strong supervenience implies reduction [Kim]
2313 Emergentism says there is no explanation for a supervenient property [Kim]
2314 Maybe intentionality is reducible, but qualia aren't [Kim]
2315 Mereological supervenience says wholes are fixed by parts [Kim]
2317 Reductionism is good on light, genes, temperature and transparency [Kim, by PG]
2318 Agency, knowledge, reason, memory, psychology all need mental causes [Kim, by PG]
2319 Metaphysics is the clarification of the ontological relationships between different areas of thought [Kim]
2320 Properties can have causal powers lacked by their constituents [Kim]
2322 Multiple realisation applies to other species, and even one individual over time [Kim]
2323 Emotions have both intentionality and qualia [Kim]
2325 It seems impossible that an exact physical copy of this world could lack intentionality [Kim]
2324 Intentionality as function seems possible [Kim]
2327 Knowledge and inversion make functionalism about qualia doubtful [Kim]
2328 The only mental property that might be emergent is that of qualia [Kim]
2329 Causal power is a good way of distinguishing the real from the unreal [Kim]
1550 Why didn't Protagoras begin by saying "a tadpole is the measure of all things"? [Plato on Kim]
2065 Not every person is the measure of all things, but only wise people [Plato on Kim]
530 There are two contradictory arguments about everything [Kim]