Physicalism is the concept of logical positivism , which was developed by Carnap , Neurath, and others. Supporters of physicalism consider the possibility of translating it into the language of physics as a criterion of the scientific nature of any provision of any science. Provisions that are not amenable to such an operation are considered as devoid of scientific meaning.
In modern philosophy, physicalism is most often associated with the problem of mind-body in the philosophy of consciousness , in relation to which physicalism takes the position that everything attributed to β reason β should in fact be attributed to the brain and its activity. Physicalism is often equated with materialism [1] [2] . Some authors believe that physicalism allows for the existence of such phenomena that do not fit into the picture of the world of materialism [3] . Physicalism is the dominant position in the philosophy of consciousness [2] . The position of methodological naturalism is also associated with this concept, the essence of which is that philosophy and science should at least proceed from the assumption of the natural nature of processes.
Content
Reductive and non-reductive physicalism
In general, physicalism is divided into reductive and non-reductive. In its ontological form, reductionism suggests that all βhigh-levelβ phenomena, such as mental states , are ultimately identical to certain physicochemical βlow-levelβ states. Non-recurrent physicalism denies this position, adhering to the opinion that all states, including mental states, are ultimately physical states.
Not all philosophers agree with this classification. For example, Kim Dzhegvon believes that only reductive physicalism can exist. Physicalism, according to Kim, implies the principle of causative closure, according to which any physical event can be explained by physical reasons. Statements that body movements can be caused by a previous state of the body and decisions / intentions are redefined. In other words, if the previous state of the body is necessary and sufficient, then other conditions do not matter.
Reductive Physicalism
All types of reductive physicalism are based on the idea that everything can be analytically reduced to fundamental physical fundamentals. This is one of the reasons why physicalism is often used as a synonym for βmaterialismβ.
The extreme version of reductive physicalism is eliminativism - the thesis that the popular understanding of consciousness is profoundly erroneous from a scientific point of view and that some or even all mental states do not actually exist [4] .
Non-Active Physicalism
The early forms of physicalism, historically evolving from materialism, were reductive. Non-recurrent physicalism became very popular after Donald Davidson introduced the concept of supervenience to physicalism.
Inherently non-reductive physicalism is the idea that, although mental states are caused by physical states, they cannot be reduced to physical properties.
See also
- Materialism
- Technocracy
Notes
- β Yulina N. S. What is physicalism? Consciousness, reduction, science // Philosophy of Science. Issue 12: The phenomenon of consciousness. Moscow: IPh RAS , 2006.
- β 1 2 K. S. Yulina. Physicalism // Encyclopedia of Epistemology and Philosophy of Science / Ed. I.T. Kasavina. - M .: βCanon +β, ROOI βRehabilitationβ, 2009.
- β Tim Crane. Mental Causation // Encyclopedia of cognitive science / Lynn Nadel (ed.). - 1 edition. - Nature Publishing Group, Macmillan Publishers Ltd, 2003. - P. 1120-1125. - 4361 p. - ISBN 9780333792612 .
- β Ramsay, William. Eliminative materialism // The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Summer 2013 version) / Ed. Edward N. Zalta. Per. from English V.V. Vasiliev.
Links
- Physicalism // Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy