Epiphenomenon

As an epiphenomenon is called an entity that was indeed causally, but even no (significant ) has a causal effect. There are two uses of the term:

• In a weak sense, all states of a system referred to as epiphenomena, which have no significant effect on the system. In this sense, for example, is the smoke of a steam locomotive an epiphenomenon, if it is considered not significant: The smoke has causal effects, but they are in the example considered for the system of the steam locomotive as insignificant.
• In a strong sense if and only states are epiphenomena, if they have no causal effects.

Consciousness as an epiphenomenon

The concept of Epiphänomens plays in the philosophy of mind a role when consciousness is regarded as an epiphenomenon. The philosophical epiphenomenalism (EP) has been represented by Charles Bonnet and, subsequently made, in particular by Thomas Henry Huxley popular. The epiphenomenalism can be regarded as a special form of dualism that ' avoids the problems of interactionist dualism in the tradition of Descartes, by denying these mental experiences causal efficacy as the cause for the following events.

Descartes had assumed a bidirectional interaction between the material on the one hand and the non-physical, mental states on the other. Against such a dualistic conception has been argued among other things that there is already a sufficient physical cause for every action, causation by immaterial entities is therefore unnecessary (causal overdetermination ).

A general epiphenomenalism was explicitly represented only rarely in philosophy. The reason is not so much to look into the argumentative superiority of alternative theories of the mind, but rather the fact that the consequences of the EP contrary to the image of man culturally acquired in essential points. However, many a time it was claimed that certain properties of consciousness ( particularly the qualia ) are in fact epiphenomenal.

In addition, some other concepts against the philosophy of mind - be argued that, although try to set up an alternative, coherent approach, but that on closer examination, also ran out of these constructs on a epiphenomenalism - Donald Davidson's anomalous monism such as.

Objections and replies

Against the epiphenomenalism (EP) have been put forward, among others, the following objections:

• The claim that consciousness phenomena have no causal effects is counterintuitive. In everyday life, we naturally assume that, for example, the unpleasant subjective sensation of pain event can be the reason that someone moans. Just as loving feelings can move a man to give someone a kiss. According to the epiphenomenalism we would be making a mistake in so far as the physical events that cause the pain experience, the root cause of the moans are and not unpleasant mental sensation of pain. The argument that epiphenomenalism is counter- intuitive, is in itself fundamentally not testifying because of Kontraintuitivität no means follows falsehood. Examples are the blind spot in the visual field or false memories.

• Furthermore, it is argued against epiphenomenalism that the EP would not make sense for us to know anything about the existence of our consciousness phenomena or remember this and that we can also share our individual sensations and feelings when they are not in any way in our reflected behavior would (Lit.: Bieri, 1992). This criticism of the EP favors an explanatory model of the mind, according to the mental phenomena, such as pain during a dental visit, M1 (see chart) the causal reason for the memory of that particular pain is M2. It is therefore mental phenomena possible causal cause of another mental phenomenon to be (M1 → M2). However - even if we assume such a causal causation of the mental, although the operation of causal mental causation can not be explained conclusively - is difficult to see why this model should be superior in this regard, a statement by the EP. For the purposes of the EP occurs when pain during the dental visit the physical event P1 with its mental epiphenomenon M1. At a later time is just this physical event P1 is the causal reason for the neural basis of memory with P2 whose mental epiphenomenon - the actual memory - M2 ( [P1 M1 ] → [P2 M2 ] ).

• If our mental phenomena causally play no role, as suggested by the EP, the question arises why the evolution of these phenomena has ever produced. Basically, these are, as well as in the defense of Kontraintuitivität, not an argument that directly attacks the internal coherence of the EP, but asks how the EP with other beliefs or theories is to reconcile. The Evolution filters basically of features that are in the reproductive competition at a disadvantage. A lack of advantage or a disadvantage, but that is not relevant for the reproduction is rather unchanged from the readout. Moreover, it is conceivable that our highly developed brain, which is a crucial evolutionary advantage, as a kind of irrelevant but systemically inevitable side effect leads to epiphänomenalem consciousness. Comparable is the fur of polar bears: The fact that her coat is heavy and the animals thus are less nimble is an evolutionary disadvantage. However, the high weight is an inevitable systemic consequence of the fact that the polar bear fur necessarily needed, which protects it from the extremely cold environmental conditions.

See also: Mental causation

Epiphenomenon in political science

Even in the political science sub-discipline of " International Relations " appeared on the notion of Epiphänomens. So there is a dispute between realists and Libertarians to the influence of the nation-state and supranational institutions to state actions.

Realists designate institutions as epiphenomena that have no influence on government action. The state acts only according to aspects of the power backup and enhancement.

Libertarians, however, reject this view of institutions from as epiphenomena. They assume that international organizations must be created even to solve the nation-state problems. The effect of international systems is precisely this ability. It is also possible, by supranational systems to resolve conflicts and securing peace regardless of power politics.