epiphenomenalism

Noun

Meaning

(philosophy, psychology, uncountable) The doctrine that mental states and processes are simply incidental effects of physiological events in the brain or nervous system and cannot themselves cause any effects in the material world.

(philosophy, psychology, countable) Such a doctrine, as advanced by a particular thinker or school of thought.

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Related terms

Examples

A similar defense comes from Australian philosopher Frank Jackson (born 1943) who revived the theory of epiphenomenalism which argues that mental states do not play a role in physical states. Source: Internet

Donald Symons dismisses epiphenomenalism from an evolutionary perspective. Source: Internet

In weak epiphenomenalism, epiphenomena that are mental phenomena can be caused by both physical phenomena and other mental phenomena, but mental phenomena cannot be the cause of any physical phenomenon. Source: Internet

Free will According to epiphenomenalism, free will having an effect on the physical world is an illusion, Gallagher, Shaun ; in: Does consciousness cause behavior? Source: Internet

Arguments for epiphenomenalism A large body of neurophysiological data seems to support epiphenomenalism. Source: Internet

However, since the cognitive revolution, there have been several who have argued for a version of epiphenomenalism. Source: Internet

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