HOLISM IN PHILOSOPHY OF MIND AND PHILOSOPHY OF PHYSICS

Transcription

1 HOLISM IN PHILOSOPHY OF MIND AND PHILOSOPHY OF PHYSICS by MICHAEL ESFELD University of Konstanz, Germany, and University of Hertfordshire, England KLUWER ACADEMIC PUBLISHERS DORDRECHT / BOSTON / LONDON

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS INTRODUCTION ix xi CHAPTER 1 WHAT IS HOLISM? PROPOSAL FOR A GENERAL CONCEPTION Requirements for a General Conception of Holism Proposal for a General Conception of Holism x Step 1: Generic Ontological Dependence Step 2: Properties that make Something a Constituent Part Result: Proposal for a General Conception of Holism Is the Proposed Conception Substantial? ' Two Types of Holism 23 CHAPTER 2 ARGUMENTS FOR HOLISM ABOUT BELIEFS 2.1 The Argument from Confirmation The Duhem-Quine Thesis From Confirmation Holism to Semantic Holism Is Quine' s Argument for Holism Convincing? The Argument from Interpretation The Argument from Inferential Role Tasks for an Inferential Role Semantics Inferential Role and Shared Beliefs Inferential Role as Social Role Meaning through Use in a Community Inferential Role in a Public Language Inferential Semantics based on Normative Pragmatics 60

3 vi CONTENTS CHAPTER 3 FROM SOCIAL HOLISM TO HOLISM ABOUT BELIEFS 3.1 The Problem of Rule-Following What is the Problem of Rule-Following? Rule-Following as Motivation for Social Holism Social Holism Meaning through Social Practices; The Argument for Social Holism Objections to the Argument for Social Holism Social Practices in terms of I-Thou Relations An Argument for Social Holism and Holism about Beliefs 96 CHAPTER 4 HOLISM AS REVISION OF THE CARTESIAN TRADITION 4.1 What is the Cartesian Tradition in Philosophy of Mind? Direct Realism versus Representational Realism Holism and Extemalism Social Extemalism Extemalism about Singular Beliefs Extemalism about Natural Kind Concepts 119 CHAPTER 5 HOLISM AND THE RELATION BETWEEN MIND AND WORLD 5.1 From Inference to Representation Holism and Realism Open-ended I-Thou Relations Rule-Following and Response-Dependence A Pragmatic Realism Social Practices in a Physical Environment A Comprehensive Holism? A Pragmatic Conception of Rationality Holism and the Metaphysics of Mind Holism and Anti-Reductionism What is the Resulting View of Ourselves? Overview of Holism in Philosophy of Mind 162

4 CONTENTS vii CHAPTER 6 CARTESIANISM IN PHYSICS AND HOLISM ABOUT SPACE OR SPACE-TIME 6.1 A Basis for Holism in Descartes'Philosophy of Physics Spinoza's Theory of Extension Holism about Matter as Holism about Space Holism about Space and the Conception of Motion Holism about Space and the Philosophy of General Relativity Holism about Matter as Holism about Space-Time Proposed Philosophical Consequences of Relativity Physics 186 CHAPTER 7 THE BASIS FOR HOLISM IN QUANTUM PHYSICS 7.1 New Conceptual Features of Quantum Theory Observables and States Incompatible Observables Entangled States The Case of Einstein, Podolsky and Rosen The Principles of Separability and Local Action Einstein's Argument for the Incompleteness of Quantum Theory Bell's Theorem and the Philosophical Implications Bell's Theorem and the Bell Experiments Non-Locality and the Bell Experiments "Experimental Metaphysics" 223 CHAPTER 8 THE MEANING OF QUANTUM HOLISM 8.1 Commitments in the Interpretation of Quantum Theory An Ontological Interpretation without Hidden Variables A Minimal Requirement for an Ontological Interpretation Entanglement at the Microphysical Level of Nature The Failure of Supervenience and Separability Non-Supervenient Relations Non-Supervenient Properties of the Whole Non-Separability Proposal for a Characterization of Quantum Holism No Separate Properties Matter as a Holistic System at the Quantum Level Are Quantum Systems Individuals? 260

5 viii CONTENTS A Brief Glimpse at Quantum Field Theory The Revision of the Cartesian Tradition in Physics 267 CHAPTER 9 THE EXTENSION OF QUANTUM HOLISM AND THE PHILOSOPHY OF MIND 9.1 The Measurement Problem Is Quantum Holism Universal? The Many Minds Interpretation The Option for Universal Quantum Holism Universal Quantum Holism and Cartesian Epistemology Complementarity of Mind and Matter? Limited Quantum Holism Limited Quantum Holism and the Measurement Problem Limited Quantum Holism and Reductionism A Plea for Caution 300 CHAPTER 10 THE MUTUAL ENRICHMENT OF QUANTUM HOLISM AND HOLISM IN PHILOSOPHY OF MIND 10.1 A Common Conceptual Content Holism, Indeterminacy and Eliminativism Holism and Supervenience Holism and a New Sort of Realism 315 REFERENCES 321 INDEX OF NAMES 353 INDEX OF SUBJECTS 361