What does epiphenomenalism mean?

Definitions for epiphenomenalism
ˌɛp ə fəˈnɒm ə nlˌɪz əmepiphe·nom·e·nal·ism

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word epiphenomenalism.

Wiktionary

  1. epiphenomenalismnoun

    The doctrine that mental states and processes are simply incidental effects of physiological events in the brain or nervous system and cannot themselves cause any effects in the material world.

  2. epiphenomenalismnoun

    Such a doctrine, as advanced by a particular thinker or school of thought.

Wikipedia

  1. Epiphenomenalism

    Epiphenomenalism is a position on the mind–body problem which holds that physical and biochemical events within the human body (sense organs, neural impulses, and muscle contractions, for example) are the sole cause of mental events (thought, consciousness, and cognition). According to this view, subjective mental events are completely dependent for their existence on corresponding physical and biochemical events within the human body, yet themselves have no influence over physical events. The appearance that subjective mental states (such as intentions) influence physical events is merely an illusion. For instance, fear seems to make the heart beat faster, but according to epiphenomenalism the biochemical secretions of the brain and nervous system (such as adrenaline)—not the experience of fear—is what raises the heartbeat. Because mental events are a kind of overflow that cannot cause anything physical, yet have non-physical properties, epiphenomenalism is viewed as a form of property dualism.

Wikidata

  1. Epiphenomenalism

    Epiphenomenalism is the theory in philosophy of mind that mental phenomena are caused by physical processes in the brain or that both are effects of a common cause, as opposed to mental phenomena driving the physical mechanics of the brain. The impression that thoughts, feelings, or sensations cause physical effects, is therefore to be understood as illusory to some extent. For example, it is not the feeling of fear that produces an increase in heart beat, both are symptomatic of a common physiological origin, possibly in response to a legitimate external threat.

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Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of epiphenomenalism in Chaldean Numerology is: 7

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of epiphenomenalism in Pythagorean Numerology is: 3

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"epiphenomenalism." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 19 Apr. 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/epiphenomenalism>.

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