65,536 definitions of physicalism - david chalmersconsc.net/slides/physicalism.pdf · 65,536...
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65,536 Definitions of Physicalism
David J. Chalmers
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An Intuitive Definition
n Physicalism: n All being is ontologically determined by
physical being.
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Definition Template
n Physicalism: n All As of type B bear relation C to the set of
Ds of type E.
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What Sort of Entities?
n All As of type B bear relation C to the set of Ds of type E. n property n instantiated property n property instance n fact n truth n event n particular (token, entity) n law
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What Domain of (High-Level) Properties?
n All properties of type B bear relation C to the set of properties of type E. n --- n qualitative n positive n contingent
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What are (Core) Physical Properties?
n All properties of type B bear relation C to the set of properties of type E. n physics-al (current or ideal) n scientific n non-mental n lowest-level
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What Sort of Relation?
n All As of type B bear relation C to the set of Ds of type E. n globally metaphysically supervene on n identical to n identical to or functionalizable via n causal powers subsumed by n identical to or constituted by n a priori entailed by (de dicto or de re) n explainable via
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Counting Definitions
n 8 (A) * 8 (B) * 8 (C) * 8 (D) * 16 (E) = 65, 536
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Andrew’s Physicalism
n PhysicalismAndrew n Every token is either identical to or
functionalizable via physical tokens/laws.
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Janice’s Physicalism
n PhysicalismJanice n Every entity is or is constituted by ideal
scientific physics-al entities.
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Frank’s Physicalism
n PhysicalismFrank n Every qualitative property globally supervenes
on physical properties (plus that’s all).
n Every qualitative property is a priori entailed (de re) by physical properties (plus that’s-all)
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Jessica’s Physicalism
n PhysicalismJessica n Every --- is --- by current or ideal physics-al
non-mental entities.
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Gene’s Physicalism
n PhysicalismGene n Every truth is necessarily entailed by physical
truths (plus that’s all).
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John’s Physicalism
n PhysicalismJohn n Every property stands in relation ---
(ontologically in virtue of?) to physical properties.
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Sara’s Physicalism
n PhysicalismSara n Every property stands in relation --- to non-
mental push-pull properties.
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Noa’s Physicalism
n PhysicalismNoa n Every property metaphysically supervenes on
core physical properties.
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The Two Main Issues
n The property issue: What are core physical properties (E)?
n The relation issue
What relation (C) must properties bear to the core physical properties for physicalism to be true?
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Metaphilosophical Question
n Q: Is the issue between these definitions of physicalism just terminological?
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Terminology Test
n Test for when an issue involving C is just terminological:
(1) Give away the term ‘C’, in favor of ‘C1’, ‘C2’, etc.
(2) Is the issue still statable, without using ‘C’? Is there a substantive disagreement about the truth of some sentence in the new vocabulary?
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Applying the Terminology Test
n Bar the use of ‘physical’ and ‘physicalism’ (etc.), in favor of physicalismJanice, physicalismJessica, etc.
n Is the issue still statable? Is there a substantive disagreement about the truth of some sentence in the new vocabulary?
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The Property Question
n What’s the residual issue involving physicalismJanice and physicalismJessica?
n “I care more about whether physicalismX is true” n “People should care more about whether
physicalismX is true” n “People (in community X) do care more about
physicalismX is true.” n “PhysicalismX captures the way the word ‘physicalism’ is most often used (in community X).”
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Mattering for Purpose X n Maybe:
n “PhysicalismJessica matters most to the mind-body problem” n “PhysicalismJanice matters most to general naturalism”
n But n Not clear these are disagreements n Not clear that they are true (the vocabulary is still available to
make distinctions, either way).
n So n No substantive non-sociological, non-attitudinal disagreement? n Not quite right to say, these are right notions for purpose X?
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Holding Fixed
n Maybe: these are articulations of multiple different conceptions of physicalism, where one holds different claims fixed.
n Or: Where one holds fixed different inferential roles for “physicalism”.
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Inferential Roles
n E.g. hold fixed n If physicalism is true, the world is
fundamentally natural. n If physicalism is true, physics is the ultimate
comprehensive science. n If physicalism is true, the mind is non-spooky.
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Multiple Conceptions
n These seem to be different conceptions. Maybe best to use different terms for each. n Naturalism n Physics-alism n Anti-mentalism
n Different challenges for each n Miracles n Configurational/high-level laws n Fundamental mentality
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Multiple Debates
n We can argue about the best analysis of physicalism according to each conception, e.g. n physicalismJanice is a candidate analysis of naturalism
[although…] n physicalismJessica is a candidate analysis of anti-
mentalism [although…]
n But not much point arguing across the debates n E.g. about whether one should care more about
naturalism or anti-mentalism.
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The Relation Question
n Is the relation question terminological? n Is there a substantive question between
supervenience/identity/etc accounts, without using ‘physicalism’?
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X-ism
n Arguably the issue is substantive. n Note that the issue here is much more
general than physicalism. It really applies to any domain X.
n We can raise the question of Xism: n Is the world fundamentally X in nature? n Is everything ontologically determined by the
X domain?
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Intuitions
n We have shared intuitions about ontological determination in (at least some) specific cases, and can raise the substantive question of whether ontological determination is best captured by supervenience, identity, or what.
n E.g. Shoemaker dualist world (John, Jessica): ontological determination intuitively fails, although supervenience holds.
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Supervenience
n My view: ontological determination best captures (to first approximation) by (global metaphysical) supervenience.
n X-ism is true if all properties supervene on X-properties. n Challenge 1: ectoplasmic angels n Challenge 2: haecceities
n Refine: X-ism is true if all positive qualitative properties supervene on X-properties (in our world).
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Necessitarian Challenge
n Challenge: What if laws of nature are necessary?
n (1) Reject the thesis n Frank: how can non-necessitarian physicalists
distinguish themselves from necessitarian dualists?
n A: Deny necessitarianism! Assert Hume’s dictum. (or: rule out via conceivability-possibility thesis?)
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Hume’s Dictum
n Hume’s Dictum: n There are no necessary connections between wholly
distinct existences.
n If Hume’s dictum is true, necessitarianism is ruled out, and the supervenience definition is OK.
n If Hume’s dictum is false, then the supervenience definition needs to be modified or rejected.
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Necessary Condition
n Reaction (2): note that supervenience is still necessary for the truth of physicalism.
n So, one can argue against physicalism by arguing against supervenence (phew!).
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If Necessitarianism is True n If necessitarianism is true? Depends how strong.
n Are there schmass worlds without consciousness? n If yes, then maybe:
n Define the base properties as structural properties n Physicalism is true iff the structural properties necessitate all
properties. n If no, then maybe
n Move to a new modality: ontological necessity? n X-ism is true if the X properties ontologically necessitate all
properties.
n Q: What is ontological necessity? We have intuitions about it (or something nearby, i.e. ontological determination) – can we make sense of it as a modality in its own right?
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Does Physicalism Require A Priori Entailment?
n Does physicalism require a priori entailment? n Frank, Gene: yes, in modified form
(de re a priori entailment, liberal a priori entailment)
n Underlying question: n What’s the link between conceptual and ontological
determination? n Is there a priori insight into ontological determination,
and if so, how much?
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Is Physicalism True?
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Is Physicalism True?
n No
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Residual Questions
n How many core conceptions? n Which matter for what role and why? n How to make sense of each? n Big question: what is ontological
determination (if not supervenience)?