180041 SE Explaining the Non-fundamental (2025S)

CONTENT: Reality appears to have levels: some things seem to be more fundamental than others. For example, it is plausible that atoms are more fundamental than molecules and that molecules are more fundamental than mountains. Moreover, it is often assumed that the less fundamental is somehow explainable by the more fundamental. But what do such explanations consist of? Also, what do they tell us about the nature and reality of the non-fundamental entities? We will ask and discuss these and similar questions during this course.

AIMS: This seminar will introduce students to different approaches to explaining non-fundamental phenomena in contemporary analytic philosophy. Students will primarily learn about the following ways to explain the non-fundamental:
- Reduction
- Emergence
- Grounding
- Elimination

Students will gain an understanding of the basic concepts, views, and arguments in the above topics. Moreover, students will learn about aspects of the metaphysics of consciousness and the metaphysics of science.

METHOD: Every session after the first will have an assigned reading and will begin with a student presentation of that reading. The rest of the session will consist of interactive teaching. The students will discuss the session’s topic under my guidance. I will clarify and explain the topic and provide context when needed. All class activities will be in English.