Philosophy of Language Discussion Group

When: Monday, February 10
Where: Barbara & Larry's
What: "Multiple Realizations" by Lawrence A. Shapiro. Journal of Philosophy 97(12): 635-654
ABSTRACT: According to the multiple realizability thesis, the kinds of higher-level sciences (e.g., psychological kinds) are constructible in diverse ways from kinds in lower-level sciences (e.g., molecular biological kinds). Many philosophers believe that if the multiple realizability thesis is true then intertheoretic reduction is impossible. This paper offers an analysis of what it means to say of a kind that it is multiply realizable and, on the basis of this analysis, argues that the multiple realizability thesis is in fact an empirical conjecture and is likely far more limited in scope than philosophers have assumed.

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The Administrator's Creed

Further. It belongs to the dignity of a ruler to have many ministers and various executors of his rule: because the greater the number of his subordinates of various degrees, the more complete and extensive is his dominion shown to be. (Thomas Aquinas, Summa Contra Gentiles lxxvii)