A philosophical theory that mental or conscious events are byproducts of physical processes and cannot causally influence physical events.
From epiphenomenal + -ism (doctrine suffix). This doctrine emerged in 19th-century philosophy as scientists grappled with how consciousness fits into a physical universe.
Epiphenomenalism is wild: it says your thoughts and feelings are just smoke rising from the fire of your brain—they're real, but they can't actually change anything!
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