Single Idea 14911

[catalogued under 17. Mind and Body / D. Property Dualism / 4. Emergentism]

Full Idea

When someone pronounces for downward causation they are in opposition to science.

Gist of Idea

Science is opposed to downward causation

Source

J Ladyman / D Ross (Every Thing Must Go [2007], 1.6 n54)

Book Reference

Ladyman,J/Ross,D: 'Every Thing Must Go' [OUP 2007], p.57


A Reaction

Downward causation is the key issue in any debate about whether minds exhibit excitingly 'emergent' properties that somehow put them outside the realm of normal physics. I take that to be nonsense, and I side with science here.