Downward causation is a concept in philosophy of science and systems theory that refers to the idea that higher-level structures, properties, or entities can exert causal influence on lower-level ones. In simpler terms, it means that the behavior of a system as a whole can affect the individual components that make up that system. This concept contrasts with the more traditional view of causation, which typically emphasizes upward causation, where lower-level components influence higher-level aggregates.
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