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Full Idea
The solidity of a table is explained causally by the behaviour of the molecules of which it is composed, but the solidity is not an extra event, it is just a feature of the table. This non-event causation models the relationship of mind and brain.
Gist of Idea
There is non-event causation between mind and brain, as between a table and its solidity
Source
John Searle (The Mystery of Consciousness [1997], Ch.1)
Book Ref
Searle,John R.: 'The Mystery of Consciousness' [Granta 1997], p.7
A Reaction
He calls it 'non-event' causation, while referring to the 'behaviour of molecules'. Ask a physicist what a 'feature' is. Better to think of it as one process 'emerging' as another process at the macro-level.
| 22741 | The incorporeal is not in the nature of body, and so could not emerge from it [Sext.Empiricus] |
| 5787 | There is non-event causation between mind and brain, as between a table and its solidity [Searle] |
| 2313 | Emergentism says there is no explanation for a supervenient property [Kim] |
| 2328 | The only mental property that might be emergent is that of qualia [Kim] |
| 4084 | Non-reductive physicalism seeks an explanation of supervenience, but emergentists accept it as basic [Crane] |
| 2405 | Perhaps consciousness is physically based, but not logically required by that base [Chalmers] |
| 6148 | Human organisms can exercise downward causation [Merricks] |
| 14911 | Science is opposed to downward causation [Ladyman/Ross] |
| 14556 | Strong emergence seems to imply top-down causation, originating in consciousness [Mumford/Anjum] |