"Emergentism" Defined 

  

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Definition

Definition of Emergentism

Emergentism is a theory concerning the nature of the material world. In contrast to reductionistic materialism, which asserts that only the tiniest components of matter have unique properties, emergentism maintains that along with complexity, and especially with structure and function, go properties that are unique and that are not to be found in the tiniest components of matter. These properties of more complex systems are therefore not reducible to those of their constituent elements, though they could not exist without them. While many of the fundamental properties of matter, such as mass, are held to be merely quantitative and additive, emergent properties are said to be qualitative and novel or non-predictable.

Historical Origins & Works

Historically, emergentism is associated with the work of two philosophers, C. Lloyd Morgan, who set forth his theories in "Emergent Evolution" and Samuel Alexander, who argued his views in "Space, Time, and Deity." However, even more persuasive explications of emergentism may be found in the work of Ludwig von Bertalanffy, the founder of general system theory (GST). (See, for example, his book "General System Theory".) A popularization of many of the elements of GST may be found in "The Web of Life" by Fritjof Capra.

Evaluation

Though reductionistic materialism is still a cornerstone of the thought of many contemporary scientists and philosophers, the door is fast closing on its theoretical viability. It was already shown to be almost certainly false in physicist Erwin Schrodinger's essay "What is Life?" (1944). There (Chapter 4, "The Quantum-Mechanical Evidence") he discusses, among other things, the nature of chemical "isomers". These are molecules with identical atomic components, yet completely different physical properties.

Moreover, if we are certain of anything, it is our own conciousness; and that conciousness has properties (such as emotion) not exhibited at lower levels of complexity than living organisms is evident.
 
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