We discuss three arguments against epiphenomenalism, the view that consciousness has no physical effects.

(I) Plausible Examples of Mental Causation

a. Utterances about phenomenal consciousness

b. The placebo effect

(II) Popper’s Deductive Evolutionary Argument

(III) James’s Abductive Evolutionary Argument

Hedda Hassel Mørch - The Evolutionary Argument for Phenomenal Powers [PDF]

Mørch’s paper was my primary resource for this episode, and it happens to be one of my favorite papers in philosophy of mind.

A Pill Against Epiphenomenalism - Patrick Spät [PDF]

Epiphenomenalism - Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy [SEP]

Transcripts available at emersongreenblog.wordpress.com

Rate the show on iTunes here

Support on Patreon here

or if you prefer to give a one-time donation, you can do so with Venmo (@emersongreenpodcast)

Listen to our sister show Counter Apologetics here

Subscribe to CA and Walden Pod on YouTube here

Contact me at [email protected] or on Facebook

Follow on Twitter @waldenpod