Schedule: Philosoφ -2022 Flyer Presentations
Submitted: Compilation of Abstracts
Keynote Speakers: 27th August 2022
Dr. Tarun Menon (11:00 am - 12:00 pm)
Azim Premji University
Emergence: Why Ignorance can be a virtue
Dr. Navneet Chopra (12:00 pm - 1:00 pm)
University of Delhi
Emergence, Acausation and Multiple Complex Causations
Abstract submission details:
We call for extended abstracts of about 800-1000 words on the topics of reduction, emergence and downward causation.
Extended abstract submission deadline: March 20th, 2022 New deadline April 30th 2022
Online link for submission of abstract and personal details: EasyChair
Notification of acceptance date: May 20, 2022
Final paper submission deadline: August 1, 2022
Main Contacts:
Mr. Ganesh Bharate (Research Scholar, IIT Kanpur: ghbganesh@gmail.com)
Mr. Kaamesh Singam (Research Scholar, IIT Kanpur: kaameshsingam@gmail.com)
Ms. Supriya Bajpai (Research Scholar, IIT Kanpur: bajpaisupriya013@gmail.com)
Dr. Lalit Saraswat (Assistant Professor, IIT Kanpur: lalitbio@gmail.com)
Dr. Vineet Sahu (Associate Professor, IIT Kanpur: vineetsahu@gmail.com)
About Conference Theme:
There are various forms of reduction such as intertheoretical (Nagel 1961), constructionism (Carnap) and mereological (Putnam 1958) reduction in the logical positivist tradition within Philosophy of Science. This has various implications for the special sciences (Fodor 1974) such as biology, psychology and sociology. Reductionism faces the problem of denying causal efficacy to the entities studied by the special sciences. Herbert Feigl within the logical positivist tradition took a position called molar behaviorism that is an intermediate position between reductionism and emergentism. This idea of reductionism has given rise to compositional identity (Place 1970), central-state theory (Armstrong 1968), strict identity (Smart 1970) in Philosophy of Mind. If we want to save the phenomena of our mental experience, i.e., if we want to argue that we have the capacity to act on the basis of our mental desires, then we would like to take an affirmative position regarding the causal efficacy of mental states. If the problem of mental causation is generalized (Kim 1997), then we face a general problem of downward causation for all special sciences.
The emergentist tradition on the other hand takes an affirmative stance regarding the causal efficacy of the entities studied by the special sciences. For example, it takes the mind as an emergent entity with new kind of relatedness (Morgan 1924). But even the emergentist position faced a downfall (McLaughlin 2008) due to its claim of configurational forces. Recently we see that non-reductive physicalism has become a paradigmatic position for philosophers: By denying micro-physicalism (Mumford & Anjum 2017) and arguing for subset of powers (Wilson 2016) and causal constraints (Juarrero 2013), one can make sense of mental (or higher-level) causation without violating the principle of physical causal closure. Campbell (2015) has argued that these problems regarding inconsistencies of mental causation and emergence are due to our commitment to substance metaphysics, and that an alternative of process metaphysics eliminates these problems. A framework of robust reductionism (Wimsatt 2006) allows causal efficacy of special sciences while accepting successional reductionism. Still the question regarding causation of mental qua mental is vexed due to the way in which causation is construed or the way in which the mind is construed. Besides, there have also been attempts to talk about reduction and emergence within the framework of compositional explanations in science (Gillett 2016) and the new mechanist framework, with strict attention being paid to claims made by scientists.
We invite extended abstracts that deal with the above mentioned problems as well as on the following areas:
Philosophy of Mind
Ontology of Emergent levels
Causal powers or intervention based approaches to downward causation
Various approaches towards mental causation
The new mechanism approach to reduction and emergence
Case studies from various fields of science in support of emergence and downward causation
Any related topics