Causal closure
Encyclopedia
Causal closure is a metaphysical
theory about the nature of causation in the physical
realm with significant ramifications in the study of the mind
.
The weak form states: "No physical event has a cause outside the physical domain." - Jaegwon Kim.
Whilst the stronger version of the theory holds that all physical effects can be ultimately reduced to physical causes, thus allowing for mental causation so long as it is in turn reducible to a physical cause.
theories of mind
. If no physical event has a cause outside the physical realm, it would follow that non-physical mental events would be causally impotent in the physical world. However, as Kim has agreed, it seems intuitively problematic to strip mental events of their causal power. Only epiphenomenalists would agree that mental events do not have causal power. Because epiphenomenalism
is objectionable to many philosophers, the problem presented by causal closure has served as an argument for physicalism. If the causal closure argument is correct, the only way to maintain mental causation (without epiphenomenalism) is to argue that mental events are actually physical events.
Metaphysics
Metaphysics is a branch of philosophy concerned with explaining the fundamental nature of being and the world, although the term is not easily defined. Traditionally, metaphysics attempts to answer two basic questions in the broadest possible terms:...
theory about the nature of causation in the physical
Physical property
A physical property is any property that is measurable whose value describes a physical system's state. The changes in the physical properties of a system can be used to describe its transformations ....
realm with significant ramifications in the study of the mind
Philosophy of mind
Philosophy of mind is a branch of philosophy that studies the nature of the mind, mental events, mental functions, mental properties, consciousness and their relationship to the physical body, particularly the brain. The mind-body problem, i.e...
.
Definition
Causal closure has two main formulations - a weak and a strong form.The weak form states: "No physical event has a cause outside the physical domain." - Jaegwon Kim.
Whilst the stronger version of the theory holds that all physical effects can be ultimately reduced to physical causes, thus allowing for mental causation so long as it is in turn reducible to a physical cause.
Importance
Causal closure is especially important when considering dualistDualism
Dualism denotes a state of two parts. The term 'dualism' was originally coined to denote co-eternal binary opposition, a meaning that is preserved in metaphysical and philosophical duality discourse but has been diluted in general or common usages. Dualism can refer to moral dualism, Dualism (from...
theories of mind
Mind
The concept of mind is understood in many different ways by many different traditions, ranging from panpsychism and animism to traditional and organized religious views, as well as secular and materialist philosophies. Most agree that minds are constituted by conscious experience and intelligent...
. If no physical event has a cause outside the physical realm, it would follow that non-physical mental events would be causally impotent in the physical world. However, as Kim has agreed, it seems intuitively problematic to strip mental events of their causal power. Only epiphenomenalists would agree that mental events do not have causal power. Because epiphenomenalism
Epiphenomenalism
In philosophy of mind, epiphenomenalism, also known as Type-E Dualism, is a view that "mental" states do not have any influence on "physical" states.-Background:...
is objectionable to many philosophers, the problem presented by causal closure has served as an argument for physicalism. If the causal closure argument is correct, the only way to maintain mental causation (without epiphenomenalism) is to argue that mental events are actually physical events.