What is global supervenience?

Leuenberger, S. (2009) What is global supervenience? Synthese, 170(1), pp. 115-129. (doi: 10.1007/s11229-008-9360-4)

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Publisher's URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11229-008-9360-4

Abstract

The relation of global supervenience is widely appealed to in philosophy. In slogan form, it is explained as follows: a class of properties A supervenes on a class of properties B if no two worlds differ in the distribution of A-properties without differing in the distribution of B-properties. It turns out, though, that there are several ways to cash out that slogan. Three different proposals have been discussed in the literature. In this paper, I argue that none of them is adequate. Furthermore, I present a puzzle that reveals a tension in our concept of global supervenience.

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 & Humanities > School of Humanities > Philosophy
Journal Name:Synthese
Publisher:Springer Netherlands
ISSN:0039-7857
ISSN (Online):1573-0964
Published Online:01 July 2008
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2008, Springer Science+Business Media B.V.
First Published:First published in Synthese 170(1):115-129
Publisher Policy:Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher. The original publication is available at www.springerlink.com

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