How Do You Spell SUPERVENIENT?

1. Supervenient, as an adjective, refers to something that arises or comes into being as a result or consequence of something else. It describes a property or quality that is dependent on or derived from another entity, process, or state of affairs. The term is often used in philosophy, particularly in discussions of mind and consciousness.

   In the context of philosophy of mind, supervenient properties are those that depend on the physical properties of an individual or a system. These properties emerge from or are determined by the underlying physical characteristics, but they cannot be reduced to or explained solely in terms of the physical. For example, mental states, such as thoughts, emotions, and subjective experiences, are often considered supervenient properties because they depend on the physical organization and processes of the brain. However, they possess qualities that cannot be fully explained by purely physical explanations.

   The concept of supervenience is used to emphasize the complex relationship between higher-level phenomena, such as consciousness, and their underlying physical substrates. It suggests that these emergent properties cannot be fully predicted or explained by examining the physical components alone. Rather, they require a more nuanced understanding of the interactions and relationships between different levels of organization. The notion of supervenience is crucial for exploring the nature of consciousness and addressing debates regarding reductionism, emergence, and the mind-body problem in philosophy.

2. Coming upon, as something additional.

   Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Common Misspellings for SUPERVENIENT

The word "supervenient" is derived from the Latin word "supervenire", which is a combination of the prefix "super", meaning "over" or "above", and the verb "venire", meaning "to come". In Latin, "supervenire" originally referred to something that comes afterwards or comes from above.