An argument for power inheritance
An argument for power inheritance
Non-reductive physicalism is commonly understood as the view that mental properties are realized by physical properties. Here, I argue that the realization relation in question is a power inheritance relation: if a property P realizes a property Q, then the causal powers of Q are a subset of the causal powers of P. Whereas others have motivated this claim by appealing to its theoretical benefits, I argue that it is in fact entailed by two theses: (1) realization is a same-subject necessitation relation; (2) properties have their causal powers derivatively on the causal powers of their bearers. Although the power inheritance claim that is defended here has many opponents, I take it that the two theses that entail it are either plausible or widely assumed.
causal powers, realization, non-reductive physicalism
383-390
Baysan, Umut
69cc8c93-08a0-4b88-8192-eb5a22fa82e3
6 January 2016
Baysan, Umut
69cc8c93-08a0-4b88-8192-eb5a22fa82e3
Baysan, Umut
(2016)
An argument for power inheritance.
The Philosophical Quarterly, 66 (253), .
(doi:10.1093/pq/pqv126).
Abstract
Non-reductive physicalism is commonly understood as the view that mental properties are realized by physical properties. Here, I argue that the realization relation in question is a power inheritance relation: if a property P realizes a property Q, then the causal powers of Q are a subset of the causal powers of P. Whereas others have motivated this claim by appealing to its theoretical benefits, I argue that it is in fact entailed by two theses: (1) realization is a same-subject necessitation relation; (2) properties have their causal powers derivatively on the causal powers of their bearers. Although the power inheritance claim that is defended here has many opponents, I take it that the two theses that entail it are either plausible or widely assumed.
This record has no associated files available for download.
More information
Published date: 6 January 2016
Keywords:
causal powers, realization, non-reductive physicalism
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 505112
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/505112
ISSN: 0031-8094
PURE UUID: abcb91d5-c94e-41cf-9d0c-d4e7d22a8263
Catalogue record
Date deposited: 29 Sep 2025 17:40
Last modified: 30 Sep 2025 02:25
Export record
Altmetrics
Contributors
Author:
Umut Baysan
Download statistics
Downloads from ePrints over the past year. Other digital versions may also be available to download e.g. from the publisher's website.
View more statistics