Timothy O'Connor

Timothy O'Connor is a philosopher known for his work on emergentism, which suggests that complex systems can exhibit properties that are not present in their individual parts. In simple terms, this means that when things combine, like atoms forming molecules or brains creating consciousness, new qualities or behaviors emerge that cannot be explained solely by understanding the individual components. O’Connor explores how this idea applies to the mind-body relationship, arguing for a view that respects both the physical basis of our existence and the unique, higher-level phenomena that arise from it, such as thoughts and experiences.