The Compatibilist Reply to the Causal Exclusion Problem Cover Image

Kompatybilistyczna odpowiedź na problem wykluczenia przyczynowego
The Compatibilist Reply to the Causal Exclusion Problem

Author(s): Jan Rostek
Subject(s): Philosophy
Published by: Uniwersytet Warszawski - Wydział Filozofii i Socjologii, Instytut Filozofii
Keywords: non-reductive physicalism; compatibilism; causal exclusion; counterfactuals; overdetermination

Summary/Abstract: The causal exclusion problem, as presented by Jaegwon Kim, is aimed to show that non-reductive physicalism is self-contradictory, as it is impossible for effects already having a sufficient physical cause to have a distinct mental cause. One possible reply to Kim’s argument is compatibilism —a view within non-reductive physicalism that states that psychophysical supervenience is able to sustain the coexistence of efficacious mental and physical causes. The aim of this paper is to describe the currently most popular compatibilist strategy, as well as to present and evaluate some objections to it. First, I sketch the causal exclusion problem and show how compatibilists could underminethe causal exclusion principle using counterfactual analysis. Then I point out why this is a troublesome and insufficient tool and what challenges await compatibilism in its current form.

  • Issue Year: 27/2019
  • Issue No: 1 (105)
  • Page Range: 73-93
  • Page Count: 21
  • Language: Polish