Features of mental states (FM) Flashcards
Define Intentionalality
Intentionality is a feature of a mental state. Where a mental state has X if it is about something, if it has an “intentional object” (where the intentional object of a mental state is the thing it is directed towards).They therefore have intentional content where the intentional content of a mental state is the thing it is about .
Intentional properties are non-intrinsic and relational properties of mental states
non-intrinsic / relational properties
understanding them will require you to talk about how the mental state ‘relates’ to something else in addition to the mental state itself
Define Qualia
qualia is a feature of a mental state which have phenomenal properties (they are properties of how the mental state seems/feels) which are intrinsic and non-intentional and are introspectively accessible (we can know about these properties by direct awareness of them within our mind).
‘Intrinsic’ and non-intentional properties
They are not properties that are about anything
introspectively accessible’
we can know about these properties by direct awareness of them within our mind
phenomenal properties
they are properties of how the mental state seems/feels
Explain what is meant by qualia as a feature of a mental state (5 marks)
Qualia are features of a mental state. Qualia are experiencers which we have, often they are sense experiences or emotional experiences. They are subjective and personal as people perceive experiences differently as what I see as red may not be what other people see as red. However, they are phenomenal properties as they are properties of how the mental state seems/feels. Which are Intrinsic and non-intentional properties of mental states (i.e. they are not properties that are about anything as something being red is different from someone experiencing red). The phenomenal character of an experience is what it is like subjectively to undergo the experience. Qualia is ‘introspectively accessible’ (we can know about these properties by direct awareness of them within our mind). It is the process by which one is directly aware of one’s own mind now it is a process by which we can acquire knowledge which is distinct from perception. If you know how you feel now, you know this through introspection. If you know what you are thinking about now, you know this through introspection.
Explain what is meant by intentionality as a feature of a mental state (5 marks)
Intentionality is a feature of mental states that means that Mental states are about something (non-mental states are not). Intentionality is a property that all or at least some mental states have (i.e. all or at least some mental states have intentional properties). This means that they are about something, directed towards something and represent something. What this means is that they’re about things. For instance, consider the belief that Harvard is located in Massachusetts. This belief is about Harvard, and about Massachusetts. The belief that Harvard is located in Vermont would also be about Harvard. intentionality is not a necessary condition of something being a mental state and having intentionality is not a sufficient condition of something being a mental state. They therefore have intentional content (aka an intentional object), where the intentional content of a mental state is the thing, it is directed towards. Intentional properties are non-intrinsic and relational properties of mental states (i.e. understanding them will require you to talk about how the mental state ‘relates’ to something else in addition to the mental state itself).
What is the difference between qualia and intentionality as features of mental states (3 marks)
Both intentionality and qualia are features of mental state. Intentionality is where a mental state has X if it is about something, if it has an “intentional object” (where the intentional object of a mental state is the thing it is directed towards). They therefore have intentional content (aka an intentional object), where the intentional content of a mental state is the thing it is about. Whereas qualia are phenomenal properties (they are properties of how the mental state seems/feels) which are intrinsic and non-intentional and are introspectively accessible (we can know about these properties by direct awareness of them within our mind).
