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Single Idea 3477

[from 'The Rediscovery of the Mind' by John Searle, in 17. Mind and Body / D. Property Dualism / 5. Supervenience of mind ]

Full Idea

There are constitutive and causal notions of supervenience. Kim claims that mental events have no causal role, and merely supervene on brain events which do (which implies epiphenomenalism). But it seems obvious that mind is caused by brain.

Gist of Idea

If mind-brain supervenience isn't causal, this implies epiphenomenalism

Source

John Searle (The Rediscovery of the Mind [1992], Ch. 5.V)

Book Reference

Searle,John R.: 'The Rediscovery of the Mind' [MIT 1999], p.125


A Reaction

Personally I think the whole discussion is doomed to confusion because it is riddled with a priori dualism. There is no all-or-nothing boundary between 'mind' and 'brain'. Kim's views have changed.