Functionalism

Question 1

how does functionalism define mental state

Answer 1

functional states within an organism.

Question 2

how does functional role apply to mental states

Answer 2

we might say the functional role of pain is an unpleasant sensation that causes the organism to get away from the thing that’s causing it harm. That function is what mental states, such as pain, are.

Question 3

how should function be explained in terms of the mind

Answer 3

Functions should be understood within the context of the entire mind. So, the function of pain, for example, isn’t simply to cause behavioural dispositions (as behaviourism claims). Part of the function of pain is to cause other mental states – such as a belief that you are in pain, or a desire for the pain to stop.

Question 4

what is putnams arg against MBIT

Answer 4

multiple realisability

argument also supports functionalism

Question 5

what is an exmaple of multiple realisability

Answer 5

[This isn’t Putnam’s example], but think about what a knife is. A knife can be made from metal, or plastic, or wood – as long as it performs its function (to cut things). Similarly, Putnam would say that mental states such as pain can be experienced by a human, an octopus or an alien – the key feature of pain is its function.

Question 6

apply multiple relisability to function of pain

Answer 6

that the function of pain is an unpleasant sensation to cause a desire for the pain to stop and that causes the organism to get away from the thing that’s causing it harm. This function is not specific to any physical instantiation, and so anything that serves this function – whether in a human, an octopus, an alien, or even a sufficiently complex computer – would count as pain. Functionalism thus avoids the multiple realisability objection to type identity theory.

Question 7

what is putnams arg against behaviourism

Answer 7

circularity arg

used as an argument to support functionalism

Question 8

how is the circulairty arg a prob for behaviourism

Answer 8

being in pain may be analysed as a disposition to say “ouch!” – but this analysis doesn’t work when you also have the mental state of not wanting to look like a wimp. Reducing mental states to behavioural dispositions is either too simplistic or becomes circular when you bring in other mental states that also need to be analysed in terms of behaviours.

Question 9

how does functionalism avoid the prob of the circulaity arg

Answer 9

1. because the function of mental states is more than simply behaviours – mental states can also cause other mental states.
2. My mental state of pain, say, could serve the function of causing other mental states such as a belief that I am in pain and a desire for the pain to stop.
3. My mental state of pain serves this function even if that mental state ends up having no effect on my behaviour.
4. Functionalism thus avoids tying mental states to specific behaviours, and thus doesn’t end up having to give circular explanations of how a person can be in pain when their behaviour says otherwise, as behaviourism does.

Question 10

what are the problems for functionalism

Answer 10

1. inverted qualia
2. the china brain
3. the knowledge arg

Question 11

rules out inverted spectrum

crit for functionalism

Answer 11

1. If functionalism is true, then two functionally identical mental states are the same mental state
2. My mental state when I look at the sky is functionally identical to yours but phenomenally different
3. Therefore our two mental states are not the same mental state
4. Therefore functionalism is false

Question 12

the china brain

crit for functionalism

Answer 12

1. Imagine we have a complete functional description of human mental states
2. A human body is hooked up to the entire population of China
3. Every person in China is linked to other people (neurons) via two-way radios
4. They communicate according to the rules set out in the complete functional description of human mental states described earlier
5. Some of these people (neurons) are linked to the outputs of the body
6. Imagine the Chinese population recreated the functions of the neurons
7. So, the input leads to exactly the same output, and everything in between is functionally identical

Question 13

the knowledge arg

crit for functionalism

Answer 13

1. Mary knows all the physical and functional facts about the mental state of seeing red
2. But when she leaves the black and white room for the first time and sees red she learns something new about the mental state of seeing red
3. So, there is more to the mental state of seeing red than simply the physical and functional facts
4. So, functionalism is wrong – there is more to mental states than their function

Question 14

what does ghe knowledge arg prove if it’s correct

Answer 14

there are things (mental properties) that exist (we all know that) that cannot be explained by a complete physical answer functional account of the world

Question 15

ranked criticisms of functionalims

Answer 15

1. the knowledge arg
2. inverted quaila
3. china brain

Question 16

why is inverted qualia the second strongest criticism

Answer 16

people seeing flipped colours is more plausible, so is more significant than China Brain

Question 17

why is china brain the weakest criticism

Answer 17

china brain lacks consciousness and has no behavioural output, AND the objection only shows that china brain isn’t conscious

Question 18

what do the 3 criticisms of function attack and say

Answer 18

attack quaila — functionalism can’t explain phenomenal consciousness

Question 19

EXTRA crit of functionalism (don’t necessarily need)

Answer 19

the zombie arg