Papers by Patrick Kuehner Lewtas
American Philosophical Quarterly, 2015
Axiomathes, 2013
This paper argues, not that physicalism is wrong, but that it is irrational. The paper defines st... more This paper argues, not that physicalism is wrong, but that it is irrational. The paper defines standards of rationality, both metaphysical and epistemological, that physicalism necessarily inherits from science. Then it assesses physicalist efforts to naturalize consciousness in light of these. It concludes that physicalism allows its metaphysics to outrun its epistemology, in defiance of applicable standards, revealing a fundamental incoherence in the doctrine. The paper also briefly reviews other naturalization programs, to claim that physicalism, unlike the sciences, hasn't proved fruitful. Keywords Physicalism Á Rationality Á Epistemic norms Á Consciousness Á Naturalization programs Consider three important mind-body theories: physicalism, emergentism and panpsychism. Physicalism holds that all concrete entities are either basic physical entities or nothing over and above basic physical entities. 1,2 This means that all higher-level concrete entities, including conscious properties, (at least token) reduce to basic physical entities at the bottom level. Every kind of physicalism cleaves, one way or another, to this core claim. 3 Emergentism holds that all higher-level concrete objects and most higher-level concrete properties work this way. However, some
Dialogue, 2014
This paper presents a metaphysical argument against physicalism based on the distinction between ... more This paper presents a metaphysical argument against physicalism based on the distinction between intrinsic and extrinsic properties. It argues that the physical, as physicalism must understand it, consists entirely of extrinsic properties, whereas consciousness involves at least some intrinsic properties. It concludes that consciousness has non-physical properties and that physicalism is false. The paper then defends its premises against current physicalist thinking. As much as possible, it offers metaphysical arguments about physical and conscious properties rather than epistemological arguments about our physical and phenomenal concepts.
Philosophy, 2013
Most definitions of radical emergentism characterize it epistemologically. This leads to misunder... more Most definitions of radical emergentism characterize it epistemologically. This leads to misunderstandings and makes it hard to assess the doctrine's metaphysical worth. This paper puts forward purely metaphysical characterizations of emergentism and property emergence. It explores the nature of the necessitation relation between base and emergent and argues that emergentism entails a Humean account of causation and related relations. Then it presents arguments against emergentism, both as a wider metaphysic and as an account of consciousness. These maintain that emergentism makes implausible claims about how the world works. The paper also stresses the doctrine's contemporary relevance: most current property dualists endorse views effectively identical to classical emergentism less its historical commitment to novel emergent forces.
Philosophy, Oct 1, 2013
Most definitions of radical emergentism characterize it epistemologically. This leads to misunder... more Most definitions of radical emergentism characterize it epistemologically. This leads to misunderstandings and makes it hard to assess the doctrine's metaphysical worth. This paper puts forward purely metaphysical characterizations of emergentism and property emergence. It explores the nature of the necessitation relation between base and emergent and argues that emergentism entails a Humean account of causation and related relations. Then it presents arguments against emergentism, both as a wider metaphysic and as an account of consciousness. These maintain that emergentism makes implausible claims about how the world works. The paper also stresses the doctrine's contemporary relevance: most current property dualists endorse views effectively identical to classical emergentism less its historical commitment to novel emergent forces.
The Philosophical Forum, 2014
Uploads
Papers by Patrick Kuehner Lewtas