Event Timeslots (1)
Thursday
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Emil-Figge-Straße 50, 2.410
In this seminar, we will explore the concept of emergence—an important topic in metaphysics and the philosophy of mind, engaging philosophers and scientists alike. Emergence describes phenomena that arise from the interaction of simpler elements but are not reducible to them. A frequently discussed example is consciousness: How can something as complex as consciousness emerge from mere neuronal activity? If consciousness is emergent, then complete knowledge of neurons will not suffice to reduce the phenomenon of consciousness to the activity of those neurons alone. Consequently, consciousness would represent a completely new property or phenomenon.
Together, we will develop the basics of emergence theory and examine various scientific and philosophical approaches that utilize or seek to better understand the concept of emergence. We will not only engage with abstract theories but also with real-world applications and current debates. Towards the end of the seminar, we will investigate whether complex human behaviors—such as suicidal behavior—can be understood as emergent phenomena. This discussion will be enriched by current psychological research addressing this question, offering insights at the intersections of philosophy, psychology, and neuroscience.
This seminar is designed for anyone interested in the intersections of philosophy and natural science as well as metaphysics, and who wishes to gain a deeper understanding of complex phenomena in the world.
Literature
Bedau, M. A., & Humphreys, P. (Eds.). (2008). Emergence: Contemporary Readings in Philosophy and Science (Annotated Edition). MIT Press.
Gibb, S., Hendry, R. F., & Lancaster, T. (2021). The Routledge Handbook of Emergence. Routledge.
Beckermann, A. (2008). Analytische Einführung in die Philosophie des Geistes (3rd ed.). de Gruyter.
Heil, J. (2019). Philosophy of Mind: A Contemporary Introduction (4th edition). Taylor & Francis Ltd.