epiphenomenalism

[ ep-uh-fuh-nom-uh-nl-iz-uh m ]

/ ˌɛp ə fəˈnɒm ə nlˌɪz əm /

noun

the doctrine that consciousness is merely an epiphenomenon of physiological processes, and that it has no power to affect these processes.

Nearby words

epiph., epiphania, epiphanize, epiphany, epipharynx, epiphenomenalism, epiphenomenon, epiphloedal, epiphonema, epiphora, epiphragm

Origin of epiphenomenalism

First recorded in 1895–1900; epi- + phenomenalism

Related forms

ep·i·phe·nom·e·nal·ist, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for epiphenomenalism

Bergson however has more to assert than merely the inadequacy and falsity of Parallelism or Epiphenomenalism.
Bergson and His Philosophy|J. Alexander Gunn

British Dictionary definitions for epiphenomenalism

epiphenomenalism

/ (ˌɛpɪfɪˈnɒmɪnəˌlɪzəm) /

noun

the dualistic doctrine that consciousness is merely a by-product of physiological processes and has no power to affect themCompare interactionism, parallelism

Derived Forms

epiphenomenalist, noun, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012