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Ceteris Absentibus Physicalism
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Abstract
In a slogan, microphysicalism is the view that there is nothing over and above microphysical facts in our world. But how are we supposed to understand this slogan? There is a popular picturesque explanation: once God had created all the microphysical facts, He was done creating the world as it is; there was nothing left for Him to do. Clearly, this is merely a metaphor, since God ‘s creating the universe is incompatible with physicalism. However, the metaphor has heuristic value, and can guide our search for an adequate formulation of physicalism.
Title: Ceteris Absentibus Physicalism
Description:
Abstract
In a slogan, microphysicalism is the view that there is nothing over and above microphysical facts in our world.
But how are we supposed to understand this slogan? There is a popular picturesque explanation: once God had created all the microphysical facts, He was done creating the world as it is; there was nothing left for Him to do.
Clearly, this is merely a metaphor, since God ‘s creating the universe is incompatible with physicalism.
However, the metaphor has heuristic value, and can guide our search for an adequate formulation of physicalism.
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