epiphenomenalism

plural epiphenomenalisms

1. uncountablehuman sciencesThe doctrine that consciousness, mental states and processes are simply by-products of physiological events in the brain or nervous system and cannot themselves cause anything, whether material or immaterial.First known use 1899

   In the eyes of epiphenomenalism, anger does not cause one to shout nor does grief cause one to cry; the feelings are by-products of the underlying physical causes and nothing more.

   3 more examples

   The textbook account of epiphenomenalism goes something like this. Although our thoughts, desires, and other mental states seem to affect what happens in the world, by bringing about changes in our behavior or subsequent mental states, this is only an appearance, cast off by the real physical sequence of cause and effect that underlies our mental life.

   1997, Victor Caston, “Epiphenomenalisms, Ancient and Modern”, in The Philosophical Review, volume 106, number 3, page 310

   More intriguing is epiphenomenalism. Just as the shadow of a running horse appears to run along with it but plays no causal role in the running, consciousness may simply accompany certain brain events but not itself have a function.

   2001, Colin Blakemore, Shelia Jennett, editors, The Oxford Companion to the Body, Oxford: Oxford University Press, page 175, column 3

   According to epiphenomenalism, physical properties of the brain cause non-physical properties of the brain, but not vice versa.

   2005, Ian Ravenscroft, Philosophy of Mind: A Beginner's Guide, New York: Oxford University Press, →ISBN, page 19

   Synonyms: conscious automatism, automatism

2. countablehuman sciencesSuch a doctrine, as advanced by a particular thinker or school of thought.

   The theory of emergent evolution has been largely developed as a corrective of mechanistic theories with their attendant psycho-physical dualisms and epiphenomenalisms.

   1926, Stephen C. Pepper, “Emergence”, in The Journal of Philosophy, volume 23, number 9, page 241