Eliminative Physicalism

Question 1

Eliminative physicalism (3)

Answer 1

A) Mental states do not exist, they are physical states

B) Folk psychology must be eliminated & replaced by neuroscience

C) Start by communicative revolution (i.e. only use scientific words to express yourself)

Question 2

Folk psychology (2)

Answer 2

A) Prescientific, common-sense conceptual framework of mental states

B) Defective & counterproductive theory
1) Lacks explanatory power (but: it does explain the causes for certain mental disorders successfully)
2) No progress, no predictions
3) No consistency, no consilience (but: evolutionary psychology)

Question 3

Arguments against eliminative physicalism (3)

Answer 3

A) Contradiction:
Eliminativists believe in their own theory, but claim belief doesn’t exist
But: believing is an empty concept even though we do a thing falsely named that way

B) FP is not a theory:
FP is also normative -> ideal for rationality

C) FP is successful
Describes, explains, predicts
But: some wrong theories have been successful for a while