Rethinking Emergence

Rethinking Emergence brings together historians of philosophy, philosophers of science, and metaphysicians to discuss the topic of the unique and puzzling phenomenon known as emergence: that is to say, the means by which complex systems such as molecules and minds can appear to become more than the sum of their parts. There has been a surge of recent interest in a family of phenomena that may broadly be described as emergent. This includes much lively and ongoing debate concerning whether any kind of emergence can be accommodated within a functionalist framework, whether emergence occurs at a time or over time, the role of context and constraint in emergence, and apparent downward causation in scientific case studies, as well as how ancient concepts of fusion, form, and transformation connect with contemporary accounts of emergence. Rethinking Emergence brings together historians of philosophy, philosophers of science, and metaphysicians in conversation to address these central questions and to delve into as-yet unexplored points of contact among their varied perspectives.