Physicalism
Overview
Physicalism is a philosophical position asserting that everything which exists is no more extensive than its physical properties, or as the physicalist might put it, that the world is entirely "made up" of physical objects and fields of force. This view is often contrasted with dualism, which posits the existence of both physical and non-physical entities, and idealism, which denies the existence of physical entities altogether.
History and Development
The roots of physicalism can be traced back to the ancient Greek philosophers, such as Democritus, who proposed that all things, including the mind, are composed of indivisible atoms. However, the modern form of physicalism emerged in the 19th century with the rise of positivism and the development of the natural sciences.
Types of Physicalism
There are several types of physicalism, including reductive and non-reductive physicalism. Reductive physicalism asserts that all mental states and properties will eventually be explained by scientific accounts of physiological processes and states. Non-reductive physicalism, on the other hand, argues that while mental states are physical they cannot be reduced to or explained by physical phenomena alone.
Arguments for Physicalism
There are several arguments in favor of physicalism. The most common is the argument from the causal closure of the physical world. This argument asserts that if an event has a cause at all, it must have a physical cause, since non-physical causes are outside of time and space and thus cannot interact with the physical universe.
Criticisms of Physicalism
Despite its popularity among philosophers and scientists, physicalism has been subject to several criticisms. Some philosophers argue that physicalism cannot account for the phenomena of consciousness and subjective experience, also known as the hard problem of consciousness. Others argue that physicalism is a form of scientism, an excessive belief in the power of scientific knowledge and techniques.
Physicalism and Science
Physicalism has had a significant influence on the natural sciences, particularly physics and neuroscience. Many scientists operate under a physicalist assumption, which has led to significant advancements in our understanding of the physical world and the human brain.