1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910739488103321

Autore

Ellis George

Titolo

How Can Physics Underlie the Mind? [[electronic resource] ] : Top-Down Causation in the Human Context / / by George Ellis

Pubbl/distr/stampa

Berlin, Heidelberg : , : Springer Berlin Heidelberg : , : Imprint : Springer, , 2016

ISBN

3-662-49809-X

Edizione

[1st ed. 2016.]

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (502 p.)

Collana

The Frontiers Collection, , 1612-3018

Disciplina

530.01

Soggetti

Statistical physics

Dynamical systems

Neurosciences

Evolutionary biology

Neurobiology

Epistemology

Complex Systems

Evolutionary Biology

Statistical Physics and Dynamical Systems

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Note generali

Description based upon print version of record.

Nota di bibliografia

Includes bibliographical references at the end of each chapters and indexes.

Nota di contenuto

Complexity and Emergence -- Digital Computer Systems -- The Basis of Complexity -- Different Kinds of Top-Down Effects -- Room at the Bottom? -- The Foundations: Physics and Top-Down Causation -- The Mind and the Brain -- The Broader View.

Sommario/riassunto

Physics underlies all complexity, including our own existence: how is this possible? How can our own lives emerge from interactions of electrons, protons, and neutrons? This book considers the interaction of physical and non-physical causation in complex systems such as living beings, and in particular in the human brain, relating this to the emergence of higher levels of complexity with real causal powers. In particular it explores the idea of top-down causation, which is the key effect allowing the emergence of true complexity and also enables the causal efficacy of non-physical entities, including the value of money,



social conventions, and ethical choices.