Content, Causation and Relational Properties
If mental properties are relational properties, their causal relevance can be called into question on the grounds that only intrinsic properties are causally efficacious. I argue that this problem has wider scope than is generally recognised by demonstrating that a number of the most attractive theories of mind posit relational content properties. This is contrary to the popular view that the problem of relational properties only ~rises for extemalist and computational theories of mind. I argue that the best attempts to provide an account ofproperty efficacy fail to account for the efficacy of relational properties, and consider whether any of the strategies can be used to develop an account which can be satisfied by relational properties. I identify the use of supervenient causation as a prima Jacie promising strategy.ĂâĂÂ· However, the forms of supervenience offered do not seem to be ones which enable relational properties to supervene. I discuss the notion of supervenience and draw attention to the failure of relational properties to supervene under standard varieties of supervenience. I develop a new version of supervenience, which enables some relational properties to be considered supervenient. This
Lock, Suzanne M.
Content, Causation and Relational Properties. If mental properties are relational properties, their causal relevance can be called into question on the grounds that only intrinsic properties are causally efficacious. I argue that this problem has wider scope than is generally recognised by demonstrating that a number of the most attractive theories of mind posit relational content properties. This is contrary to the popular view that the problem of relational properties only ~rises for extemalist and computational theories of mind. I argue that the best attempts to provide an account ofproperty efficacy fail to account for the efficacy of relational properties, and consider whether any of the strategies can be used to develop an account which can be satisfied by relational properties. I identify the use of supervenient causation as a prima Jacie promising strategy.ĂâĂÂ· However, the forms of supervenience offered do not seem to be ones which enable relational properties to supervene. I discuss the notion of supervenience and draw attention to the failure of relational properties to supervene under standard varieties of supervenience. I develop a new version of supervenience, which enables some relational properties to be considered supervenient. This
content causation relational properties mental_property relational property causal relevance call_question ground intrinsic property causally efficacious argue problem wider scope generally recognise demonstrate number attractive theory_mind posit relational content property contrary popular view problem relational property computational theory_mind argue best attempt_provide account efficacy fail_account efficacy relational property consider_whether strategy_use develop_account relational property identify use causation prima promising however form supervenience offer seem enable relational property supervene discuss notion supervenience draw_attention failure relational property supervene standard_variety supervenience develop_new version supervenience enable relational property consider