Realization and the metaphysics of mind

Australasian Journal of Philosophy 85 (2):233 – 259 (2007)
  Copy   BIBTEX

Abstract

According to the received view in philosophy of mind, mental states or properties are _realized_ by brain states or properties but are not identical to them. This view is often called _realization_ _physicalism_. Carl Gillett has recently defended a detailed formulation of the realization relation. However, Gillett’s formulation cannot be the relation that realization physicalists have in mind. I argue that Gillett’s “dimensioned” view of realization fails to apply to a textbook case of realization. I also argue Gillett counts as realization some cases that should not count if realization physicalism is to be distinguished from its competitors in the usual ways. I conclude that the relation described by Gillett cannot be realization

Other Versions

No versions found

Similar books and articles

Analytics

Added to PP
2009-01-28

Downloads
552 (#100,388)

6 months
103 (#121,920)

Historical graph of downloads
How can I increase my downloads?

Author's Profile

Tom Polger
University of Cincinnati

Citations of this work

Construction area (no hard hat required).Karen Bennett - 2011 - Philosophical Studies 154 (1):79-104.
Metaphysical emergence: Weak and Strong.Jessica Wilson - 2013 - In Stephen Mumford & Matthew Tugby, Metaphysics and Science. Oxford: Oxford University Press. pp. 251-306.
Realization Relations in Metaphysics.Umut Baysan - 2015 - Minds and Machines 3:1-14.

View all 54 citations / Add more citations