Philosophical and Scientific Perspectives on Downward Causation (Routledge Studies in Contemporary Philosophy)

Downward causation plays a fundamental role in many theories of metaphysics and philosophy of mind. It is strictly connected with many topics in philosophy, including but not limited to: emergence, mental causation, the nature of causation, the nature of causal powers and dispositions, laws of nature, and the possibility of ontological and epistemic reductions. __Philosophical and Scientific Perspectives on Downward Causation__ brings together experts from different fields―including William Bechtel, Stewart Clark and Tom Lancaster, Carl Gillett, John Heil, Robin F. Hendry, Max Kistler, Stephen Mumford and Rani Lill Anjum ―who delve into classic and unexplored lines of philosophical inquiry related to downward causation. It critically assesses the possibility of downward causation given different ontological assumptions and explores the connection between downward causation and the metaphysics of causation and dispositions. Finally, it presents different cases of downward causation in empirical fields such as physics, chemistry, biology and the neurosciences. This volume is both a useful introduction and a collection of original contributions on this fascinating and hotly debated philosophical topic. Contents 6 1 Downward Causation An Opinionated Introduction 8 Part I Downward Causation and the Metaphysics of Causation 29 2 Three Grades of Downward Causation 30 3 Downward Causation 47 4 Higher-Level, Downward and Specific Causation 59 5 Powers and Downward Causation 81 6 Emergence and Demergence 97 7 Power Mereology: Structural Powers versusSubstantial Powers 115 Part II Downward Causation and the Sciences 133 8 The Use of Downward Causation in Condensed Matter Physics 134 9 Prospects for Strong Emergence in Chemistry 149 10 Causality and Levels of Explanation in Biology 167 11 The Interlacing of Upward and Downward Causation in Complex Living Systems: On Interactions, Self-Organization, Emergence and Wholeness 183 12 Top-Down Causation in Biology and Neuroscience Control Hierarchies 206 13 Early Complexity in Human Development 228 14 Scientific Emergentism and Its Move beyond (Direct) Downward Causation 245 Part III Downward Causation, Mind and Agency 266 15 The Mental Causation Debate and Qua Problems 267 16 Agent-Causation—Neither Upward Nor Downward 280 17 The Compatibility of Downward Causation and Emergence 298 18 Three Views on Mental Downward Causation 315 Contributors 330 Index 332 Cover -- Title -- Copyright -- Contents -- 1 Downward Causation: An Opinionated Introduction -- PART I Downward Causation and the Metaphysics of Causation -- 2 Three Grades of Downward Causation -- 3 Downward Causation -- 4 Higher-Level, Downward and Specific Causation -- 5 Powers and Downward Causation -- 6 Emergence and Demergence -- 7 Power Mereology: Structural Powers versus Substantial Powers -- PART II Downward Causation and the Sciences -- 8 The Use of Downward Causation in Condensed Matter Physics -- 9 Prospects for Strong Emergence in Chemistry -- 10 Causality and Levels of Explanation in Biology -- 11 The Interlacing of Upward and Downward Causation in Complex Living Systems: On Interactions, Self-Organization, Emergence and Wholeness -- 12 Top-Down Causation in Biology and Neuroscience: Control Hierarchies -- 13 Early Complexity in Human Development -- 14 Scientific Emergentism and Its Move beyond (Direct) Downward Causation -- PART III Downward Causation, Mind and Agency -- 15 The Mental Causation Debate and Qua Problems -- 16 Agent-Causation-Neither Upward Nor Downward -- 17 The Compatibility of Downward Causation and Emergence -- 18 Three Views on Mental Downward Causation -- Contributors -- Index