Supervenience in metaphysics

Leuenberger, S. (2008) Supervenience in metaphysics. Philosophy Compass, 3(4), pp. 749-762. (doi: 10.1111/j.1747-9991.2008.00150.x)

Abstract

Supervenience is a topic-neutral, broadly logical relation between classes of properties or facts. In a slogan, <i>A</i> supervenes on <i>B</i> if and only if there cannot be an <i>A</i>-difference without a <i>B</i>-difference. The first part of this paper considers different ways in which that slogan has been cashed out. The second part discusses applications of concepts of supervenience, focussing on the question whether they may provide an explication of determination theses such as physicalism.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Leuenberger, Professor Stephan
• Authors: Leuenberger, S.
• Subjects: B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > B Philosophy (General)
• College/School: College of Arts > School of Humanities > Philosophy
• Journal Name: Philosophy Compass
• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing, Inc.
• ISSN: 1747-9991
• Published Online: 15 May 2008
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2008 The Author. Journal Compilation © 2008 Blackwell Publishing Ltd
• First Published: First published in Philosophy Compass 3(4):749-762
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher. The definitive version is available at www3.interscience.wiley.com