Metodo

International Studies in Phenomenology and Philosophy

Series | Book | Chapter

192287

A refutation of physicalism

pp. 115-132

Abstract

Should one be a physicalist? In this chapter, I argue, benevolently, that the argument from causal closure is either unsound or question-begging, but, more realistically, that it is absolutely misplaced because its scope is restricted to a certain class of mental properties. It does not even touch the question of whether every particular in the actual world is a physical particular, and therefore cannot support physicalism. Because the argument from causal closure is the canonical argument for physicalism, I conclude there is no positive reason to be a physicalist at all.

Publication details

Published in:

(2014) A theory of the absolute. Basingstoke, Palgrave Macmillan.

Pages: 115-132

DOI: 10.1057/9781137412829_7

Full citation:

(2014) A refutation of physicalism, In: A theory of the absolute, Basingstoke, Palgrave Macmillan, 115–132.