parallelismia

Parallelismia is a theoretical framework used in philosophy of mind and complex-systems theory to describe the occurrence of parallel, non-causally interacting processes that exhibit coordinated states across distinct domains. Proponents describe parallel streams of information, cognition, or physical states that run side by side, with apparent synchrony yet no direct causal contact.

Origin and etymology. The term combines parallelism with the -ia suffix common in doctrine names. The concept emerged in speculative discussions in the 21st century to address how distributed systems display coordinated behavior without inter-domain causation.

Core ideas. The theory posits two modes: strict parallelism, where domains operate completely independently, and weak or soft parallelism, where coordination arises from shared prior constraints, boundary conditions, or common histories. It contrasts with interactionist theories that require causal contact and with emergentism that attributes features to higher-level properties.

Applications and examples. In cognitive science, parallelismia offers a lens to model synchronized but non-interacting processes in multitasking or in brain-computer interfaces. In information theory, it describes correlated patterns across independent networks. In philosophy, it provides an alternative to mental-physical interaction by positing pre-established harmony rather than causal influence.

Critique and current status. Critics argue that parallelismia risks explaining too little and may be unfalsifiable. It is usually treated as a speculative heuristic rather than a settled doctrine, with debates focusing on testability, explanatory scope, and compatibility with physicalism.

See also parallelism, psychophysical parallelism, pre-established harmony, emergentism.