Physicalism Or Something Near Enough: A Comprehensive Exploration of the Philosophy

Are you ready to dive deep into the fascinating world of physicalism? Look no further than "Physicalism Or Something Near Enough," the 19th edition in the prestigious Princeton Monographs In Philosophy series. In this article, we will explore the key concepts, arguments, and debates surrounding physicalism while providing an in-depth review of this groundbreaking book.

Defining Physicalism

Physicalism is a philosophical stance that claims everything in the world is fundamentally physical. It asserts that all entities, including mental states and consciousness, can be explained and understood in terms of physical processes, such as neurobiology and physics.

Physicalism, or Something Near Enough (Princeton Monographs in Philosophy Book 19)

by Jaegwon Kim (Kindle Edition)

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	980 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	201 pages

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The book "Physicalism Or Something Near Enough" by Jaegwon Kim delves into this subject matter with unparalleled depth and clarity. Kim, an eminent philosopher, presents a compelling defense of physicalism while tackling its complexities and potential shortcomings.

Exploring the Book's Structure

Structured into nine chapters, "Physicalism Or Something Near Enough" offers a systematic analysis of the philosophy's key aspects. Extensive footnotes and references throughout the book provide further insights and encourage readers to explore related works for a more holistic understanding.

The book covers various topics, including:

• The history and origins of physicalism
• Controversies surrounding mental causation
• Epistemic and metaphysical challenges to physicalism
• The relationship between physicalism and reductionism
• The mind-body problem and its implications
• Emergentism: a potential alternative to physicalism
• How physicalism intersects with philosophy of mind and science

Provocative Arguments and Counterarguments

One of the strengths of "Physicalism Or Something Near Enough" lies in Kim's ability to present complex ideas in an accessible manner. He engages readers with thought-provoking arguments while considering the most compelling counterarguments from critics.

The book sheds light on various objections raised against physicalism, such as the qualia argument, the problem of mental causation, and questions regarding the explanatory gap between physical and phenomenal aspects of consciousness. Kim takes these objections seriously and offers thoughtful responses, inviting readers to critically evaluate the philosophy.

Implications for Philosophy and Beyond

Kim's extensive exploration of physicalism has far-reaching implications for multiple areas of philosophy, including metaphysics, philosophy of mind, philosophy of science, and the philosophy of language. By delving deep into the nature of reality, the book invites readers to reexamine their underlying assumptions about the world and challenges them to engage in intellectual discourse.

Furthermore, the concepts discussed have real-world implications. Understanding physicalism can help inform debates surrounding free will, consciousness, artificial intelligence, and the ethical considerations arising from advancements in technology and cognitive sciences.

In , "Physicalism Or Something Near Enough" offers a comprehensive exploration of physicalism that excites both seasoned philosophers and curious newcomers. With its rigorous analysis, engaging writing style, and thought-provoking arguments, this book serves as an essential resource for anyone interested in understanding the mind-body problem and the nature of reality.

So, why wait? Grab your copy of "Physicalism Or Something Near Enough" and embark on an intellectual journey that will challenge your preconceptions and broaden your philosophical horizons!

Physicalism, or Something Near Enough (Princeton Monographs in Philosophy Book 19)

by Jaegwon Kim (Kindle Edition)

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	980 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	201 pages

FREE

Contemporary discussions in philosophy of mind have largely been shaped by physicalism, the doctrine that all phenomena are ultimately physical. Here, Jaegwon Kim presents the most comprehensive and systematic presentation yet of his influential ideas on the mind-body problem. He seeks to determine, after half a century of debate: What kind of (or "how much") physicalism can we lay claim to? He begins by laying out mental causation and consciousness as the two principal challenges to contemporary physicalism. How can minds exercise their causal powers in a physical world? Is a physicalist account of consciousness possible?

The book's starting point is the "supervenience" argument (sometimes called the "exclusion" argument), which Kim reformulates in an extended defense. This argument shows that the contemporary physicalist faces a stark choice between reductionism (the idea that mental phenomena are physically reducible) and epiphenomenalism (the view that mental phenomena are causally impotent). Along the way, Kim presents a novel argument showing that Cartesian substance dualism offers no help with mental causation.

Mind-body reduction, therefore, is required to save mental causation. But are minds physically reducible? Kim argues that all but one type of mental phenomena are reducible, including intentional mental phenomena, such as beliefs and desires. The apparent exceptions are the intrinsic, felt qualities of conscious experiences ("qualia"). Kim argues, however, that certain relational properties of qualia, in particular their similarities and differences, are behaviorally manifest and hence in principle reducible, and that it is these relational properties of qualia that are central to their cognitive roles. The causal efficacy of qualia, therefore, is not entirely lost.

According to Kim, then, while physicalism is not the whole truth, it is the truth near enough.