How causal is downward causation?

Journal for General Philosophy of Science / Zeitschrift für Allgemeine Wissenschaftstheorie 36 (2):261 - 287 (2005)
  Copy   BIBTEX

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to lay bare the major problems underlying the concept of downward causation as discussed within the perspective of the present interest for phenomena that are characterized by self-organization. In our Discussion of the literature, we have focussed on two questions: (1) What sorts of things are said to be, respectively, causing and caused within the context of downward causation? And (2) What is the meaning of 'causing' in downward causation? We have concluded that the concept of 'downward causation' is muddled with regard to the meaning of causation and fuzzy with regard to the nature of the causes and the effects. Moreover, we have concluded that 'causation' in respect of 'downward causation' is usually understood in terms of explanation and determination rather than in terms of causation in the sense of 'bringing about'. Thus, the term 'downward causation' is badly chosen

Links

PhilArchive



    Upload a copy of this work     Papers currently archived: 90,221

External links

Setup an account with your affiliations in order to access resources via your University's proxy server

Through your library

Similar books and articles

Downward causation in fluid convection.Robert C. Bishop - 2008 - Synthese 160 (2):229 - 248.
The nonreductivist’s troubles with mental causation.Jaegwon Kim - 1992 - In John Heil & Alfred R. Mele (eds.), Mental Causation. Oxford University Press.
Mechanisms and downward causation.Max Kistler - 2009 - Philosophical Psychology 22 (5):595-609.
Zooming in on downward causation.William S. Robinson - 2005 - Biology and Philosophy 20 (1):117-136.
Emergentism, irreducibility, and downward causation.Achim Stephan - 2002 - Grazer Philosophische Studien 65 (1):77-93.
Levels, Emergence, and Three Versions of Downward Causation.Claus Emmeche, Simo Koppe & Frederick Stjernfelt - 2000 - In P.B. Andersen, Claus Emmeche, N.O. Finnemann & P.V. Christiansen (eds.), Downward Causation. Aarhus, Denmark: University of Aarhus Press. pp. 322-348.
The Revival of ‘Emergence’ in Biology.Paul Thompson - 2003 - Croatian Journal of Philosophy 3 (3):217-229.

Analytics

Added to PP
2009-01-28

Downloads
235 (#77,992)

6 months
11 (#127,761)

Historical graph of downloads
How can I increase my downloads?

Citations of this work

Sixteen Years Later: Making Sense of Emergence (Again).Olivier Sartenaer - 2016 - Journal for General Philosophy of Science / Zeitschrift für Allgemeine Wissenschaftstheorie 47 (1):79-103.
Elder-Vass on the Causal Power of Social Structures.Tobias Hansson Wahlberg - 2014 - Philosophy of the Social Sciences 44 (6):774-791.
Levels of Organization in Biology.Markus Eronen & Daniel Stephen Brooks - unknown - Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.
Hierarchical structures.Stanley N. Salthe - 2012 - Axiomathes 22 (3):355 - 383.

View all 17 citations / Add more citations