Is Materialism a Consequence of Natural Science?
Abstract
Naturalism is neither a consequence nor a presupposition of natural science in a threefold way: (1) the principle of matter, (2) the principle of supervenience and (3) the principle of the causal closure of the world are metaphysical principles. They are true, if naturalism is true. So, if you are a naturalist, you should find reasons for your worldview which are independent from natural science. But it is hard to see how this could work.References
Bieri, P., [ed.] Analytische Philosophie des Geistes, Bodenheim: Athenäum Hain Hanstein, 1993.
Davidson, D., Handlung und Ereignis, Frankfurt am Main: Suhrkamp, 1990.
Dawkins, R., Das egoistische Gen, [Trans. by] K. de Sousa Ferreira, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York: Springer-Verlag, 1978.
Dawkins, R., Der blinde Uhrmacher. Ein Plädoyer für den Darwinismus, [Trans. by] K. de Sousa Ferreira, München: Kindler Verlag, 1987.
Esfeld, M., [ed.] Philosophie der Physik, Frankfurt am Main: Suhrkamp, 2012.
Gould, S. J. & E. S. Vrba, Exaptation — a missing term in the science of form. Paleobiology 8/1 (1982), pp. 4–15, url: https://faculty.insead.edu/vibha- gaba/documents/Gould%20%26%20Vrba_Exaptation.pdf (visited on 08/27/2012).
Kim, J., [ed.] Supervenience, Trowbridge, Wiltshire: The Cromwell Press, 2002.
Kim, J., Supervenience and mind. Selected philosophical essays, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1993.
Mutschler, H.-D., Halbierte Wirklichkeit. Warum der Materialismus die Welt nicht erklärt, Kevelaer: Butzon & Bercker, 2014.
Strawson, P. F., Analyse und Metaphysik. Eine Einführung in die Philosophie, [Trans. by] C. Hochkeppel, München: Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag, 1994.
von Wright, G. H., Causality and determinism, New York, London: Columbia University Press, 1974.
The Yearbook only accepts materials for publication that are free of all conflicts of interest, and that in no way involve conflicts over authorship, copyright, etc. The Editors will take action against any cases of plagiarizing, ghostwriting1, guest/honorary authorship2, etc. Where co-authored work is concerned, the Author listed first is expected to take responsibility for the submission, and is required to make clear the contributions of all of the Co-Authors involved. In the event of the publication owing its existence to funding dedicated to this purpose, this fact should be made clear: e.g. in any note of thanks/acknowledgement, or in a footnote, etc. Explicit notification should be given of any form of reprinting, with the appropriate evidence of permission to publish being furnished as required. Any impropriety on the part of Authors/Reviewers risks exposing them to appropriate responses from the relevant institutions.
______
1 This term refers to instances of a person who has made an essential contribution being omitted from the list of authors, or from notes conveying gratitude and/or acknowledgement.
2 This occurs when a person who has made either an insignificant contribution or no contribution at all nevertheless appears on the list of authors.