Metaphysical Emergence

Jessica M. Wilson (Professor of Philosophy, University of Toronto)

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English

Oxford University Press
27 April 2023

Philosophy; Philosophy: metaphysics & ontology; Philosophy of mind; Philosophy of science

Both the special sciences and ordinary experience suggest that there are metaphysically emergent entities and features: macroscopic goings-on (including mountains, trees, humans, and sculptures, and their characteristic properties) which depend on, yet are distinct from and distinctively efficacious with respect to, lower-level physical configurations and features. These appearances give rise to two key questions. First, what is metaphysical emergence, more precisely? Second, is there any metaphysical emergence, in principle and moreover in fact? Metaphysical Emergence provides clear and systematic answers to these questions. Wilson argues that there are two, and only two, forms of metaphysical emergence of the sort seemingly at issue in the target cases: 'Weak' emergence, whereby a dependent feature has a proper subset of the powers of the feature upon which it depends, and 'Strong' emergence, whereby a dependent feature has a power not had by the feature upon which it depends. Weak emergence unifies and illuminates seemingly diverse accounts of non-reductive physicalism; Strong emergence does the same as regards seemingly diverse anti-physicalist views positing fundamental novelty at higher levels of compositional complexity. After defending the in-principle viability of each form of emergence, Wilson considers whether complex systems, ordinary objects, consciousness, and free will are actually metaphysically emergent. She argues that Weak emergence is quite common, and that there is Strong emergence in the important case of free will.

By: Jessica M. Wilson (Professor of Philosophy University of Toronto)
Imprint: Oxford University Press
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 235mm, Width: 158mm, Spine: 19mm
Weight: 528g
ISBN: 9780198883470
ISBN 10: 0198883471
Pages: 336
Publication Date: 27 April 2023
Audience: Professional and scholarly , Undergraduate
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Jessica M. Wilson is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Toronto. Her research focuses on general metaphysics, metaphysics of science and mind, and philosophical methodology. Wilson was co-recipient of the 2014 Lebowitz Prize for Philosophical Achievement and Contribution, and 2022 University of Toronto Scarborough Research Excellence Faculty Scholar.

Reviews for Metaphysical Emergence

[...] this book is a staggeringly impressive work of a philosopher at the very top of her game. Its main significance will be in providing an authoritative and comprehensive conceptual framework for metaphysical emergence that should be used to formulate claims of emergence across science and philosophy going forward. [...] This book should also be essential reading for those engaged with specific debates about the metaphysical emergence of complex systems, ordinary objects, consciousness, and free will. Wilson's book lays new conceptual foundations that provide hope for progress in all of these debates.' * Alyssa Ney, Notre Dame Philosophical Review * Metaphysical Emergence is a work of great significance. It offers a unified, ecumenical, and naturalistic framework that treats emergence as properly metaphysical, and offers a model for interlevel metaphysics outside of the grounding paradigm. * Elanor Taylor, Australasian Journal of Philosophy * Metaphysical Emergence is a very important contribution to the contemporary literature on the metaphysics of emergence. It is systematic; in fact, it is the most systematic treatment of the metaphysics of emergence that I know of. It is very thorough: Wilson complements many of her proposals by discussing and responding to various objections. It is ambitious: [developing] a novel approach to the relationship between conceivability and possibility [and making] a case for libertarianism about free will. Overall, this is a work of very high quality that we will talk about for many years to come. * Umut Baysan, Analysis * The book is a wide-ranging and rewarding exploration of metaphysical dependence. Wilson moves seamlessly from abstract discussions of the nature of dependence to specific topics in philosophy of science, mind, ordinary objects, and action theory. In each of these areas, Wilson offers a synoptic vision of the terrain, covering an enormous range of considerations and views. * Christopher Frugé, Philosophy * All in all, Metaphysical Emergence is a very complete treatment of pretty much everything that has to do with emergence. Wilson exhibits exemplary scholarship in engaging with a very large corpus of literature. We have a lot to learn from Wilson, and a close reading of this book will no doubt be rewarding to anyone working not only in metaphysics of emergence, but also in metaphysics more generally. * Umut Baysan, The Philosophical Quarterly *