Onnis, Erica (2023) Emergence: A pluralist approach. THEORIA. An International Journal for Theory, History and Foundations of Science, 38 (3). pp. 339-355. ISSN 2171-679X
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Abstract
Despite the common use of the concept of emergence, no uncontroversial theoretical framework has been yet formulated in this regard. In this paper, I examine what this circumstance suggests about the significance and usefulness of this concept. I first trace a brief history of the notion of emergence from its first formulation among the British Emergentists to its contemporary uses. Then, I outline its most common features and examine three examples of emergent phenomena, namely particle decay, free will, and division of labour in ant colonies. These three cases of emergence exhibit different features and imply criteria which only partially overlap. I then suggest that the multiplicity of features and criteria recognised as defining emergence, rather than being a threat to the tenability of the concept, should encourage the assumption of a pluralist attitude that is consistent with both the employment of this idea in different sciences and the recognition of emergent phenomena across different levels of organisation. Finally, I propose that emergence can be approached in a similar way to how Richard Boyd approached the problem of natural kinds, namely by identifying an open cluster of properties, rather than a set of necessary and sufficient conditions.
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| Item Type: | Published Article or Volume | ||||||
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| Additional Information: | ISSN: 0495-4548 (print) | ||||||
| Keywords: | emergence; emergentism; reduction; pluralism; cluster theory | ||||||
| Subjects: | General Issues > Scientific Metaphysics Specific Sciences > Complex Systems General Issues > History of Philosophy of Science General Issues > Reductionism/Holism |
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| Depositing User: | Unnamed user with email theoria@ehu.es | ||||||
| Date Deposited: | 03 Aug 2024 15:37 | ||||||
| Last Modified: | 03 Aug 2024 15:37 | ||||||
| Item ID: | 23748 | ||||||
| Journal or Publication Title: | THEORIA. An International Journal for Theory, History and Foundations of Science | ||||||
| Publisher: | Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea / Universidad del País Vasco | ||||||
| Official URL: | https://ojs.ehu.eus/index.php/THEORIA/article/view... | ||||||
| DOI or Unique Handle: | 10.1387/theoria.23972 | ||||||
| Subjects: | General Issues > Scientific Metaphysics Specific Sciences > Complex Systems General Issues > History of Philosophy of Science General Issues > Reductionism/Holism |
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| Date: | December 2023 | ||||||
| Page Range: | pp. 339-355 | ||||||
| Volume: | 38 | ||||||
| Number: | 3 | ||||||
| ISSN: | 2171-679X | ||||||
| URI: | https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/23748 |
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