Functionalism Flashcards
how did functionalism come about
in trying to account for the problem of token token theory the explanation created a theory of function
what is the difference between the terms type and token
type is a generalized category -pain
token is a specific instance - infinite number of these
what was the first attempt at identity theory called
type-token theory-for every TYPE of mental state there is a TOKEN brain state
in account of the criticism of chauvinism what was the attempt to fix the identity theory
token-token theory- for every TOKEN mental state there is a TOKEN brain state
what was the problem with the Token-Token theory?
if jones and mary have the same belief.
if their mental configurations are token (specific and individual to them)
what is it that makes the belief the same?
if trying to eliminate the mental features, we cannot use mental terms to explain the commonality
what is the response to the problem of the token-token theory? and what does this response cause
two brain states are the same mental state (a shared belief) by the virtue of the role that the brain state plays in the overall system
this causes functionalism to emerge, this is no longer an identity theory but now a theory about how the brain configuration relates to other states in the organism
for identity theory to be correct what was necessary according to Putnam
- one must specify the physical chemical state that any organism must be in, in order to feel [pain]. one such that any organism that is capable of feeling is able to feel
- it must NOT be possible of any organism to have that chemical brain state if they cant feel pain
- this HAS to be true of ALL psychological states
- if we can find JUST one mental psychological predicate that can apply to both a mammal and an octopus but differ in respect to their physical chemical states, then identity theory collapses
what were Putnams brief objections to behaviourism
- there IS the translation problem
- Person A feels pain but does not behave, and Person B does not feel pain (for whatver reason, pain meds) but is still able to act in pain. (you can have one without the other)
what theory did Putnam subscribe to and what is the thesis of the theory
functionalism: a rejection of, and reaction to, the identity theory
a reductive theory of mind
thesis: Mental states are functional states/ relational states
according to functionalism, mental states fulfill a _________
particular function within the organism
how does functionalism answer to the token identity problem
two different brain state tokens are tokens of the same type of mental state if and only if the two brain states have the same causal relations (have the same function–relating to input)
same belief does not = same configuration
same belief = same function
brain state does not matter, function does
brain state X and Y can = the same belief if they play the same role
according to functionalism. functions do not cause beliefs there _______
is JUST the function
Belief=function
mental state is just the ______ that it plays
function/ role
what must you NOT do when referring to mental states and functionalism
you must be careful NOT to claim that mental states are related to other states in the organism.
according to functionalism mental states are NOT related but ARE THE RELATIONS
what are the three parts of the “system” (your body) according to functionalism
- There are particular __inputs__ to the system (body): vision, touch, and sensory inputs (also other beliefs, not entirely external)
- There are particular __outputs__ of the system (body): behaviours , reactions, observable and non, micro and macro
- There are states that relate ___inputs and outputs ___of the system (body), as well as relate to other states: brain states, neurological events, events of the nervous system…
What makes two brain states the same mental state according to
Type-token, token-token, and functionalism
Type-Token Identity Theorist: The same neurological configuration
Token-Token Identity Theorist: the problem causes a shift into functionalism.
Functionalist: Brain states that play the same role. Something that caused the same belief. The tendency for the same belief.
according to functionalism the same belief=_______
same function
what did Putnam think about identity theory and correlation
there is no advantage to mind and brain being = to each other
you can say they are correlated, but it is too strong of a claim to say they are identical
believed that identity theorists are being too scientific, Descartes was being more cautious
what does “jones believes there is a cat on a mat” mean to a functionalist?
jones is in mental state X that is causallly related to other mental states… which produces some external behaviour
Fill in the blanks and name what is going on in this quote:
Jones is in some state ‘x’ that is _________________to other mental states, say, the perception of the cat on the mat (‘y’), along with the desire to feed the cat (‘w’), which is related to external stimuli such as light hitting Jones’ retina (‘e’), which then produces _______________that might include feeding the cat treats (‘a’)
Jones is in some state ‘x’ that is ________causally related _________to other mental states, say, the perception of the cat on the mat (‘y’), along with the desire to feed the cat (‘w’), which is related to external stimuli such as light hitting Jones’ retina (‘e’), which then produces ________some external behaviour ________that might include feeding the cat treats (‘a’)
conditional behaviour
define conditional behaviour
behaviour based on beliefs.
behaviour produced by mental stste
what is the problem with the original conditioned behaviour example of jones believes the cat is on the mat
run into the incomplete translation issue again. using mental states to explain the mental states
briefly explain black box behaviourism
a mental state goes in a behaviour comes out–no explination for what happens under the box
what is the solution the functionalists propose to the incomplete translation problem
ramsey sentences
