Just a reminder that Adrian Boutel will be speaking at the Serious 
Metaphysics Group tomorrow (Thursday), on 'Downward Causation Without 
Tears'. We'll meet from 1:00 - 2:30pm in the Faculty Board Room.

Hope to see you there,

Georgie


Downward Causation Without Tears

Individual action often has social or cultural causes.  But explanations 
that appeal to social-level phenomena are sometimes objected to in 
social scientific contexts on the basis that they involve “downward 
causation”—implying such horribles as collective super-entities and the 
denial of individual agency.  Drawing on familiar metaphysical 
resources, particularly Woodwardian manipulation, I outline an 
inoffensive model of cultural downward causation which is compatible 
with a non-spooky social ontology, including supervenience of the social 
on the individual and uncompromised agency.

-- 
Georgie Statham
PhD Candidate
Faculty of Philosophy
University of Cambridge

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