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Single Idea 3291

[from 'Panpsychism' by Thomas Nagel, in 8. Modes of Existence / B. Properties / 7. Emergent Properties ]

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.

Gist of Idea

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

Source

Thomas Nagel (Panpsychism [1979], p.186)

Book Reference

Nagel,Thomas: 'Mortal Questions' [CUP 1981], p.186