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Single Idea 4612

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

Full Idea

Complex properties do not "emerge"; they are nothing "over and above" the properties of the simple constituents duly arranged.

Gist of Idea

Complex properties are just arrangements of simple properties; they do not "emerge" as separate

Source

John Heil (Philosophy of Mind [1998], Ch.6)

Book Ref

Heil,John: 'Philosophy of Mind' [Routledge 1998], p.180

A Reaction

I am glad to see someone challenging the concept of 'emergence', which strikes me as incoherent. Small properties add up to macro-properties (like 'steep', or 'square').

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]