Ideas from 'Panpsychism' by Thomas Nagel [1979], by Theme Structure

[found in 'Mortal Questions' by Nagel,Thomas [CUP 1981,0-521-29460-6]].

green numbers give full details    |     back to texts     |     unexpand these ideas

---

8. Modes of Existence / B. Properties / 7. Emergent Properties

3291	Emergent properties appear at high levels of complexity, but aren't explainable by the lower levels

			Full Idea: The supposition that a diamond or organism should truly have emergent properties is that they appear at certain complex levels of organisation, but are not explainable (even in principle) in terms of any more fundamental properties of the system.
			From: Thomas Nagel (Panpsychism [1979], p.186)

26. Natural Theory / C. Causation / 9. General Causation / d. Causal necessity

3290	Given the nature of heat and of water, it is literally impossible for water not to boil at the right heat

			Full Idea: Given what heat is and what water is, it is literally impossible for water to be heated beyond a certain point at normal atmospheric pressure without boiling.
			From: Thomas Nagel (Panpsychism [1979], p.186)