Emergence and Downward Causation Reconsidered in Terms of the Aristotelian-Thomistic View of Causation and Divine Action
<p>One of the main challenges of the nonreductionist approach to complex structures and phenomena in philosophy of biology is its defense of the plausibility of the theory of emergence and downward causation. The tension between remaining faithful to the rules of physicalism and physical causa...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Uniwersytet Mikołaja Kopernika
2016-04-01
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| Series: | Scientia et Fides |
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| Online Access: | https://apcz.umk.pl/czasopisma/index.php/SetF/article/view/9429 |
| _version_ | 1818883761364795392 |
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| author | Mariusz Tabaczek |
| author_facet | Mariusz Tabaczek |
| author_sort | Mariusz Tabaczek |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>One of the main challenges of the nonreductionist approach to complex structures and phenomena in philosophy of biology is its defense of the plausibility of the theory of emergence and downward causation. The tension between remaining faithful to the rules of physicalism and physical causal closure, while defending the novelty and distinctiveness of emergents from their basal constituents, makes the argumentation of many proponents of emergentism lacking in coherency and precision. In this article I aim at answering the suggestion of several thinkers to redefine emergence and downward causation in terms of the broader Aristotelian view of causation. In addition, I further develop this interdisciplinary conversation to include theological implications of emergentism, analyzed in reference to Aquinas’ understanding of divine action in terms of the same fourfold division of causes—bringing thus natural science, philosophy, and theology into creative and fruitful dialogue.</p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-19T15:38:47Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f380b572b6dd4e36bed2c7c61204aa2b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2300-7648 2353-5636 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-19T15:38:47Z |
| publishDate | 2016-04-01 |
| publisher | Uniwersytet Mikołaja Kopernika |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientia et Fides |
| spelling | doaj.art-f380b572b6dd4e36bed2c7c61204aa2b2022-12-21T20:15:32ZengUniwersytet Mikołaja KopernikaScientia et Fides2300-76482353-56362016-04-014111514910.12775/SetF.2016.0108303Emergence and Downward Causation Reconsidered in Terms of the Aristotelian-Thomistic View of Causation and Divine ActionMariusz Tabaczek0The Notre Dame Institute for Advanced Study – University of Notre Dame, Indiana<p>One of the main challenges of the nonreductionist approach to complex structures and phenomena in philosophy of biology is its defense of the plausibility of the theory of emergence and downward causation. The tension between remaining faithful to the rules of physicalism and physical causal closure, while defending the novelty and distinctiveness of emergents from their basal constituents, makes the argumentation of many proponents of emergentism lacking in coherency and precision. In this article I aim at answering the suggestion of several thinkers to redefine emergence and downward causation in terms of the broader Aristotelian view of causation. In addition, I further develop this interdisciplinary conversation to include theological implications of emergentism, analyzed in reference to Aquinas’ understanding of divine action in terms of the same fourfold division of causes—bringing thus natural science, philosophy, and theology into creative and fruitful dialogue.</p>https://apcz.umk.pl/czasopisma/index.php/SetF/article/view/9429emergencedownward causationhylomorphismteleologyaristotleaquinas |
| spellingShingle | Mariusz Tabaczek Emergence and Downward Causation Reconsidered in Terms of the Aristotelian-Thomistic View of Causation and Divine Action Scientia et Fides emergence downward causation hylomorphism teleology aristotle aquinas |
| title | Emergence and Downward Causation Reconsidered in Terms of the Aristotelian-Thomistic View of Causation and Divine Action |
| title_full | Emergence and Downward Causation Reconsidered in Terms of the Aristotelian-Thomistic View of Causation and Divine Action |
| title_fullStr | Emergence and Downward Causation Reconsidered in Terms of the Aristotelian-Thomistic View of Causation and Divine Action |
| title_full_unstemmed | Emergence and Downward Causation Reconsidered in Terms of the Aristotelian-Thomistic View of Causation and Divine Action |
| title_short | Emergence and Downward Causation Reconsidered in Terms of the Aristotelian-Thomistic View of Causation and Divine Action |
| title_sort | emergence and downward causation reconsidered in terms of the aristotelian thomistic view of causation and divine action |
| topic | emergence downward causation hylomorphism teleology aristotle aquinas |
| url | https://apcz.umk.pl/czasopisma/index.php/SetF/article/view/9429 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mariusztabaczek emergenceanddownwardcausationreconsideredintermsofthearistotelianthomisticviewofcausationanddivineaction |