Emergence without levels

Abstract

This paper deals with the question of downward causation in connection with emergent systems. Beginning with the comments offered by Emmeche, Køppe, and Stjernfelt (2000), which are criticized here, and partially based on those of Pattee (2000), the paper puts forward an interpretation of the kind of relation that exists between the basal conditions for a given event and the event itself, and the relations between a given system as a whole and its parts making use of the concepts of community and internal purposiveness, concepts due to Kant.