Mind and Emergence From Quantum to

Mind and Emergence examines the case for emergence in contemporary science and philosophy. A variety of recent scientific results have challenged the reductively physicalist understanding of the natural world, suggesting instead that evolution produces a series of interdependent but irreducible levels of organization. If sustained, these data require revisions not only within the philosophy of science but also to standard views of consciousness, culture, and religion.

Philip Clayton is Ingraham Professor, Claremont School of Theology; Professor of Philosophy and of Religion, Claremont Graduate University.

Preface

v

List of Illustrations

xi

I. From Reduction to Emergence

The rise and fall of reductionism

2

(1)

The concept of emergence

3

(4)

The pre-history of the emergence concept

7

(2)

Weak and strong emergence

9

(2)

Strong emergence: C. D. Broad

11

(2)

Emergent evolution: C. L. Morgan

13

(4)

Strong emergence since 1960

17

(8)

Weak emergence: Samuel Alexander

25

(6)

The challenge of weak emergence

31

(1)

Conclusion

32

(1)

Notes

33

(5)

2. Defining Emergence

38

(27)

Introduction

38

(1)

The problem of definitions

38

(2)

Five different meanings of emergence

40

(2)

An example: emergence at the fourth level

42

(2)

Doubts about emergence

44

(3)

Diverging approaches to the science and philosophy of emergence

47

(2)

Downward causation

49

(5)

Emergence and physicalism

54

(6)

Conclusion: eight characteristics of emergence

60

(2)

Notes

62

(3)

3. Emergence in the Natural Sciences

65

(42)

Introduction

65

(1)

Physics to chemistry

66

(3)

Artificial systems

69

(4)

Biochemistry

73

(5)

The transition to biology

78

(6)

Emergence in evolution

84

(9)

Toward an emergentist philosophy of biology

93

(7)

Conclusion

100

(1)

Notes

101

(6)

4. Emergence and Mind

107

(49)

The transition from biology

107

(1)

The three levels of emergence

108

(2)

Introducing the problem of consciousness

110

(2)

The neural correlates of consciousness

112

(5)

Can studies of neural correlates solve the problem of consciousness?

117

(3)

Why consciousness remains the 'hard problem'

120

(4)

Weak supervenience and the emergence of mental properties

124

(4)

Toward an emergentist theory of mind

128

(11)

Assumptions and a wager

139

(1)

The science and phenomenology of agent causation

140

(4)

Person-based explanations and the social sciences

144

(4)

Conclusion

148

(1)

Notes

149

(7)

5. Emergence and Transcendence

156

(58)

Introduction

156

(1)

Mind and metaphysics

157

(2)

Four metaphysical responses to the emergence of mind

159

(4)

The presumption of naturalism

163

(2)

Is there an emergent level after mind?

165

(4)

The limits to possible scientific enquiry

169

(3)

What naturalistic explanations leave unexplained

172

(7)

Going beyond emergence

179

(6)

Trading mind–body dualism for theological dualism

185

(2)

Rethinking divine action

187

(6)

Integrating personhood and divine action

193

(6)

Closing objections

199

(4)

Conclusion

203

(3)

Notes

206

(8)

Bibliography

214

(17)

Index

231

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Mind and Emergence From Quantum to Consciousness

Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials