physicalism

physicalism

Physicalism: the only substance is physical substance

‘Matter’ is too crude

‘Physical’: comes under the laws and investigations of physics, and whose essential properties are described by physics

So: everything that exists is physical, or depends upon something that is physical

3 claims of physicalism

1. properties identified by physics form the fundamental nature of the universe (all properties are ontologically dependent on physical properties)

2. physical laws govern all objects and events in space-time

3. ‘completeness of physics’ aka causal closure, no non-physical causes are necessary

elimination

there are no mental properties as we usually think of them

reduction (identity)

mental properties (eg a thought) are identical to certain physical properties (eg a pattern of neurons firing)

ontological reduction

the things in one domain (eg mental things) are identical with some of the things in another domain

dependent but distinct

mental properties ontologically depend on physical properties, but arent identical to them

supervenience

mental properties ‘supervene’ on physical properties just in case any two things that are exactly alike in their physical properties cannot have different mental properties

impossible to change something’s mental properties without changing its physical properties