Systemic emergentism: A productive approach to the mind-body problem

Abstract

Among the different theories that treat the human mind and mind-body relations, the systemic-emergentist approach has rarely received the attention it deserves and, in fact, its contributions have often been undervalued. This fact is especially striking because it represents one of the most plausible approaches to the topic—situated as it is between the extant dualisms and the physicalist and reductionist monisms—and one that can help integrate productively scientific investigations and philosophical reflections. This contribution puts forth the key points of the systemic-emergentist approach, as well as the positions of five of its best-known representatives (Bunge, Popper, Searle, Monserrat and Laín Entralgo). This study will also consider similarities and differences between their models in order to detect those areas of this mentalist approach that need to be further investigated.

Keywords

• emergentism, system, systemic, structure, dynamism, mind, mind-body, matter, ontological and epistemological reductionism, elevation, Bunge, Popper, Searle, Monserrat, Laín Entralgo