Formal arguments

Question 1

What is the formal argument against eliminative materialism concerning our certainty about the existence of mental states?

Answer 1

P1: When you look in your own mind, you appear to be directly aware of your own mental states, such as your beliefs, desires, and sensations.
P2: It is absurd to deny the existence of what one is directly aware of.
C: So eliminativism is wrong to deny the existence of mental states picked out by the concepts of folk psychology.

Question 2

What is the formal argument stating that eliminativism is self-refuting?

Answer 2

P1: Eliminativism claims that mental states, such as beliefs, do not exist.
P2: If eliminativism is true, it would not be possible to believe it is true. And, if language used to articulate the theory is meaningless, then the theory itself would be meaningless.
C1: Therefore, according to its own view, eliminativism cannot be fully believes.
C2: Therefore, it is self-refuting.

Question 3

What was Churchland’s defence from the criticism of eliminativism which states it is self-refuting?

Answer 3

P1: Anti-vitalists claim vital spirit does not exist.
P2: But if the vital spirit does not exist, then the vitalist is not alive.
P3: If the anti-vitalist is not alive then the words they are using to articulate their belief are meaningless.
C: Therefore, according to the anti-vitalists, it is not possible to believe their claim, and so anti-vitalism is self-refuting.