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Work in Process

There is a contemporary movement among a number of philosophers, inspired by biology, to pursue a process-oriented metaphysics. These theorists argue that standard approaches are inadequate because they do not capture the essentially dynamic nature of biological systems. Traditional ontologies begin with essentially stable building blocks (a “thing” such as a substance, object, or particle).… Continue reading Work in Process

The Causal Roots of Consciousness

In this post I recap my preferred framework for tackling the hard problem of consciousness, and then try to extend the analysis a bit deeper.  I have favored a “divide and conquer” strategy that recognizes two dimensions to the problem. Our conscious experience has both a qualitative character and a subjective character, and both can… Continue reading The Causal Roots of Consciousness

What Scientific Understanding Implies About Causation

The last post discussed the idea that understanding is an epistemic achievement distinct from knowledge.  In particular, some philosophers have made the case that understanding doesn’t require truth. I focused in on one corollary of this idea: scientific understanding can be achieved via causal explanations that utilize idealization.  This is possible because false characterizations in… Continue reading What Scientific Understanding Implies About Causation

Thoughts on Scientific Understanding and Realism

I think one of the most helpful recent developments in philosophy has been the increased focus on understanding as an epistemic aim distinct from knowledge. For an overview, see Stephen Grimm’s new entry in the SEP. While I don’t specialize in epistemology, thinking about understanding has made some things clearer to me when it comes… Continue reading Thoughts on Scientific Understanding and Realism

RQM and Molecular Composition

According to the last post, the constitution of complex natural systems should be understood using a theory of composite causal processes. Composite causal processes are formed from a pattern of discrete causal interactions among a group of smaller sub-processes. When the latter sustains a higher rate of in-group versus out-group interactions, they form a composite.… Continue reading RQM and Molecular Composition

Composing Natural Systems

[Originally published May 31, 2021] An interesting feature of Relational Quantum Mechanics (RQM), the subject of the last post, is its implication that discrete measurement-like interaction events are going on between natural systems (unobserved by us) all the time.  It turns out that this offers a way to incorporate quantum phenomena into an attractive account of how… Continue reading Composing Natural Systems

Why I Favor Relational Quantum Mechanics

[Originally published January 28, 2021] I think Relational Quantum Mechanics (RQM), initially proposed by Carlo Rovelli, is the best interpretation of quantum mechanics.1 It is important to note right away, however, that I depart from Rovelli’s thinking in one important respect. He takes an anti-realist view of the wave function (or quantum state). As I will… Continue reading Why I Favor Relational Quantum Mechanics

Metaphysics and the Problem of Consciousness

[Originally published April 16, 2020] In a recent post I talked about different frameworks for addressing the subjective dimension of consciousness. One path used ideas from philosophy of mind, the other looked to evolutionary biology. Of course, many who ponder solving this and related aspects of the mind-body problem take a more overtly metaphysical turn.… Continue reading Metaphysics and the Problem of Consciousness

Different Approaches to Subjectivity

[Originally Published March 25, 2020] In the last post, I endorsed a Russellian approach to the mind-body problem (specifically the view labeled “panqualityism”), noting that one of the important tasks this framework leaves us with is explaining the subjective dimension of consciousness. This problem arguably requires less of a deep dive into metaphysical waters, but rather… Continue reading Different Approaches to Subjectivity