Jaegwon Kim's Argument Against Non-reductivism
Kim proposed that one cannot be a physicalist and a non-reductivist. Physicalism, according to Kim, has a principle of causal closure according to which every physical event is fully accountable in terms of physical causes. Claims that bodily movements are caused by the preceding state of the body and decisions/intentions are overdetermined. In other words, if the preceding state of the body is both necessary and sufficient, additional conditions are irrelevant.
Kim also attributes to physicalism the principle of causal exclusion according to which if one event has a sufficient cause at one time, no other event can be the cause. This then poses a problem for mental causation if one believes in the supervenience thesis of physicalism.
Read more about this topic: Physicalism
Famous quotes containing the word argument:
“This is no argument against teaching manners to the young. On the contrary, it is a fine old tradition that ought to be resurrected from its current mothballs and put to work...In fact, children are much more comfortable when they know the guide rules for handling the social amenities. It’s no more fun for a child to be introduced to a strange adult and have no idea what to say or do than it is for a grownup to go to a formal dinner and have no idea what fork to use.”
—Leontine Young (20th century)