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Mental Causation
Article first published online: 2 FEB 2007
DOI: 10.1111/j.1747-9991.2007.00063.x
Additional Information
How to Cite
Bennett, K. (2007), Mental Causation. Philosophy Compass, 2: 316–337. doi: 10.1111/j.1747-9991.2007.00063.x
Publication History
- Issue published online: 2 FEB 2007
- Article first published online: 2 FEB 2007
- Philosophy Compass 2/2 (2007): 316–337, 10.1111/j.1747-9991.2007.00063.x
- Abstract
- Article
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Abstract
Concerns about ‘mental causation’ are concerns about how it is possible for mental states to cause anything to happen. How does what we believe, want, see, feel, hope, or dread manage to cause us to act? Certain positions on the mind-body problem – including some forms of physicalism – make such causation look highly problematic. This entry sketches several of the main reasons to worry, and raises some questions for further investigation.