释义 |
epipheˈnomenalism [f. prec. + -ism.] The theory that consciousness is an epiphenomenon, i.e. a secondary result and by-product of the material brain and nerve-system. So epipheˈnomenalist, one who holds this theory; also as adj.
1899J. Ward Naturalism & Agnosticism II. xii. 34 Doctrine of conscious automatism or psychical epiphenominalism examined. 1903A. E. Taylor Elem. Metaphysics 317 The epiphenomenalist theory is largely adopted by the workers in the physical sciences. 1915G. F. Stout Man. Psychol. (ed. 3) 98 Perhaps the word which best characterises the general position is epiphenomenalism. Consciousness is regarded as a superfluous apparition or phenomenon which unaccountably crops up at a certain stage in the course of material processes. 1922W. R. Inge Outspoken Ess. 2nd Ser. 6 Not only does epiphenomenalism (as Plotinus said long ago) ‘make soul an affection, or disease, of matter’. 1949Mind LVIII. 124 Epiphenomenalism has outstanding merits, heuristic and educational. It teaches the student to take very seriously indeed the search for the neural correlates of his mental processes. Ibid., It is refreshing..to read a clear defence of a frankly epiphenomenalist position. |