I've discussed the concept of emergence here repeatedly. It is central to my still-developing personal philosophy, as it centers the mind-body problem and indeed the place of the human species within the broader world. Not minor points. Emergence is the idea that reality is layered, and that one layer arises as the simplifying embodiment and consequent of the complexities of the level that lies beneath it. One notable example of this is the emergence of consciousness from the complexities of life. As it happens, there has been much discussion of emergence in this sense among contemporary philosophers. I will say a little bit today about three philosophical names to contend with: Jaegwon Kim, Sydney Shoemaker, Warren Shrader. Jaegwon Kim (1934 - 2019) argued against emergence in the sense I've discussed it. He called it "non-reductive physicalism" and his bottom line was that it cannot be maintained. Physicalism is the future of philosophy, but it must accep...