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Daydreams and anarchy : A Defense of Anomalous Mental Causation

Zangwill, N.

Authors

N. Zangwill



Abstract

Must mental properties figure in psychological causal laws if they are causally efficacious? And do those psychological causal laws give the essence of mental properties? Contrary to the prevailing consensus, I argue that, on the usual conception of laws that is in play in these debates, there are in fact lawless causally efficacious properties both in and out of the philosophy of mind. I argue that this makes a great difference to the philosophical relevance of empirical psychology. 1 begin by making the case that revolutions and hurricanes are lawless phenomena, before arguing for a similar thesis about creativity, love, courage, dreams, daydreams, and musings. Furthermore, the empirical research on these phenomena suggests that the philosophical issues may be independent of what empirical psychology can tell us.

Citation

Zangwill, N. (2006). Daydreams and anarchy : A Defense of Anomalous Mental Causation. Philosophy and Phenomenological Research, 73(2), 253-289. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1933-1592.2006.tb00618.x

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date Sep 1, 2006
Deposit Date Jul 16, 2007
Journal Philosophy and Phenomenological Research
Print ISSN 0031-8205
Electronic ISSN 1933-1592
Publisher Wiley
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 73
Issue 2
Pages 253-289
DOI https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1933-1592.2006.tb00618.x

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