StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...

Philosophy Functionalism - Essay Example

Cite this document
Summary
Functionalism is the dominant theory of mental states in contemporary philosophy. Functionalism was developed as an answer to the problems created by identity theory and logical behaviorism. Cartesian Dualism said the ultimate nature of the mental was to be found in a special mental substance…
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER98.3% of users find it useful
Philosophy Functionalism
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "Philosophy Functionalism"

Download file to see previous pages

Its core idea is that mental states can be accounted for without taking into consideration the underlying physical medium (the neurons), but instead attending to higher-level functions such as beliefs, desires, and emotions. For (an avowedly simplistic) example, a functionalist theory might characterize pain as a state that tends to be caused by bodily injury, to produce the belief that something is wrong with the body and the desire to be out of that state, to produce anxiety, and, in the absence of any stronger, conflicting desires, to cause wincing or moaning.

According to this theory, all and only creatures with internal states that meet these conditions, or play these roles, are capable of being in pain. Suppose that, in humans, there is some distinctive kind of neural activity (C-fiber stimulation, for example) that meets these conditions. If so, then according to this functionalist theory, humans can be in pain simply by undergoing C-fiber stimulation. But the theory permits creatures with very different physical constitutions to have mental states as well: if there are silicon-based states of hypothetical Martians or inorganic states of hypothetical androids that also meet these conditions, then these creatures, too, can be in pain. . satisfy the descriptions - then it's also logically possible for non-physical states to play the relevant roles, and thus realize mental states, in some systems as well.

So functionalism is compatible with the sort of dualism that takes mental states to cause, and be caused by, physical states.Still, though functionalism is officially neutral between materialism and dualism, it has been particularly attractive to materialists, since many materialists believe (Lewis, 1966) that it is overwhelmingly likely that any states capable of playing the roles in question will be physical states. If so, then functionalism can stand as a materialistic alternative to the Psycho-Physical Identity Thesis, the thesis that each type of mental state is identical with a particular type of neural state.

This thesis, once considered the dominant materialistic theory of the mind, entails that no creatures with brains unlike ours can share our sensations, beliefs, and desires, no matter how similar their behavior and internal organization may be to our own. This is a consequence that many regard as implausible. Thus functionalism, with its claim that mental states can be multiply realized, is widely regarded as providing a more inclusive, less "(species-) chauvinistic" (Block, 1980) - and thus more plausible - theory that is (at least arguably) compatible with materialism.

Within this broad characterization of functionalism, however, a number of distinctions can be made. Functionalism has three distinct sources. First, Putnam and Fodor saw mental states in terms of an empirical computational theory of the mind. Second, Smart's "topic neutral" analyses led Armstrong and Lewis to a functionalist analysis of mental concepts. Third, Wittgenstein's idea of meaning as use led to a version of

...Download file to see next pages Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(“Philosophy Functionalism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words”, n.d.)
Retrieved de https://studentshare.org/miscellaneous/1508240-philosophy-functionalism
(Philosophy Functionalism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 Words)
https://studentshare.org/miscellaneous/1508240-philosophy-functionalism.
“Philosophy Functionalism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 Words”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/miscellaneous/1508240-philosophy-functionalism.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF Philosophy Functionalism

Theoretical perspectives in Sociology

In sociology, the behavior, interaction, and other social issues are studied using the structural functionalism approach, conflict or symbolic interactionism theories.... Structural functionalism theory compares society with that of the human body composed of structures or parts with its corresponding function to maintain the equilibrium and health of the organism.... While the main focus of functionalism is the normal state of the society through its cooperating groups, the conflict perspective refutes it as it views society as not in any way harmonious....
5 Pages (1250 words) Essay

Describing Functionalism and Psycho-Functionalism

The paper "functionalism" tells us about describing functionalism and psycho functionalism.... According to Ned Block, functionalism is concerned with finding the answer to the question (what the mental states are).... As Shoemaker explains, in the 1975 work, functionalism, from the philosophy of mind view is the conviction that psychological or mental terms can be done away to a certain extent.... The difference between Psychofunctionalism and functionalism generates a distinction in the manner of specifying the inputs as well as outputs....
7 Pages (1750 words) Term Paper

The Impact of Sociological Theories on Education

Various sociological theories impact the education system and they include functionalism, conflict, and interactionism (Giddens, 1991).... In contemporary philosophy, functionalism theory is the theory of the mind and was largely developed as an alternative to both theories of behaviorism and identity theory of mind.... functionalism theory is regarded as a social paradigm that sees society as a system of interdependent subsystems....
9 Pages (2250 words) Essay

Marxist and Funtionalist Perspectives on Inequality of Educational Achievement Due to Social Class

functionalism is characterised as a set of three interrelatedd theses about the social world.... The key feature of the Marxist critique of capitalist schooling is the inequality in educational achievement, based on social class.... The purpose of this paper is to compare Marxist and Functionalist views attributing social class differences for inequality of educational achievement....
5 Pages (1250 words) Essay

Functionalism vs. Dualism and the Identity Theory

Explain the functionalist view of mentality: functionalism is "the physical realization of a functional component is not, in some sense, its essence.... hellip; To be more precise, the theories of functionalism take the identity of a mental state to be conclusive by its causal relations to sensory stimulations and behavior.... functionalism is a thought, desire, pain (or any other type of mental state) that does not depend on "its internal constitution, but solely on its function, or the role it plays, in the cognitive system of which it is a part....
3 Pages (750 words) Essay

Functionalism and the Theory of the Mind

The paper "functionalism and the Theory of the Mind" explores the issues touching on mental causation.... The most important point to note about functionalism is that it indicates that mental states which constitute beliefs, being in pain, and desires are composed entirely by their functional roles.... Being a theoretical; level existing between implementation and physical output, functionalism is different from Cartesian dualism which supports the physical substance and mental independence....
7 Pages (1750 words) Essay

Functionalism and Marxism in Todays World

In the paper “functionalism and Marxism in Today's World” the author discusses the difference between functionalism and Marxism, which is that functionalists view economic exploitation as an acceptable price to pay for international peace.... functionalism as a word is interesting and useful.... hellip; The author states that in global commerce, the closest one can come to a simple definition is that functionalism is a modification of the Marxist philosophy....
10 Pages (2500 words) Assignment

Impact of Sociological Theories in Education

hellip; Since functionalism theory mainly focuses on social stability, it may have some effects on social change within the educational institution.... functionalism theory is regarded as a social paradigm that sees society as a system of subsystems that are interdependent....
9 Pages (2250 words) Essay
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us