The Re-Emergence of Emergence
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The book edited by Clayton and Davies gathers fourteen contributions of great scientific and philosophical quality, signed by the best scholars working in that field. (Lluis Oviedo, European Society for the Study of Science and Theology (ESSAT) )
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Much of the modern period was dominated by a `reductionist' theory of science. On this view, to explain any event in the world is to reduce it down to fundamental particles, laws, and forces. In recent years reductionism has been dramatically challenged by a radically new paradigm called `emergence'. According to this new theory, natural history reveals the continuous emergence of novel phenomena: new structures and new organisms with new causal powers. Consciousness is yet one more emergent level in the natural hierarchy. Many theologians and religious scholars believe that this new paradigm may offer new insights into the nature of God and God's relation to the world. This volume introduces readers to emergence theory, outlines the major arguments in its defence, and summarizes the most powerful objections against it. Written by experts but suitable as an introductory text, these essays provide the best available presentation of this exciting new field and its potentially momentous implications.
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2 reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Very good
30 April 2011
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
The Re-Emergence of Emergence is a collection of thoughtful essays on emergence. I read this initially last year (?) but keep coming back to my favorite essay of the book by Terrence Deacon, Emergence: The Hole at the Wheel's Hub. Deacon's thesis is: "emergent phenomena grow out of an amplification dynamic that can spontaneously develop in very large ensembles of interacting elements by virtue of the continuing circulation of interaction constraints and biases, which become expressed as system-wide characteristics. In other words, these emergent forms of causality are to a curious type of circular connectivity of causal dynamics, not a special form or causality." Deacon goes on to make a pretty compelling case.
As one other reviewer noted, there are parts of this books which are pretty technical (for the Deacon essay mentioned above, I liberally used the dictionary and a couple of science reference books in my library)---that said, this volume is worth the price.
Highly recommended.
As one other reviewer noted, there are parts of this books which are pretty technical (for the Deacon essay mentioned above, I liberally used the dictionary and a couple of science reference books in my library)---that said, this volume is worth the price.
Highly recommended.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Not for general readers
11 Mar 2011
Format:Paperback
This book offers an overview of emergence in the physical sciences, biological sciences, the mind and theology, but it is not designed for general readers. I bought the book looking for a general account of the dispute between reductionism and emergence based on the presence of Paul Davies who writes well for those outside of science. I also thought that since they includeded theology that the essays were designed for people without technical backgrounds. I enjoyed Davies' essay, but most of the other essays need more background for general readers than the authors provide. Some essays require a Ph.D. to understand any words in a sentence besides "is," "and" and "the." The authors also are so enthusiastic for emergence that they do not give the alternative of reductionism a fair hearing -- they should know many scientists and philosophers reject "strong" forms of emegerence.
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