functionalism

Question 1

define functionalism

Answer 1

all mental states can be characterised in terms of functional roles which can be multiply realised.

Question 2

2 arguments for functionalism?

Answer 2

Putnam: it solves multiple realisability (knife can be made out of different things but still perform same function. mental state can be of different things but still be the same if it performs the same function)

Putnam: solves over-simplicity/circularity of behaviourism as it doesn’t limit mental states to one set of behaviours, mental states can have connected and overlapping functions (they can cause each other etc)

Question 3

4 problems for functionalism?

Answer 3

1. functional duplicate, inverted qualia (colour)
2. functional duplicate, no qualia (china brain)
3. knowledge argument (Mary’s Room)
4. Functional states are too liberal and broad

Question 4

what is the functional duplicate with inverted qualia issue for functionalism?

Answer 4

even if we saw inverted colours to each other, the functions of these mental states would be the same. So if functionalism is right then the mental states are identical but they are not so it’s wrong.

RESPONSE 1: the functions are not the same as if the sky was inverted to look red, we may associate the sky with anger (different function, so different mental state) BUT these colour connotations are cultural so the function wouldn’t be different

RESPONSE 2: the mental states are the same, we just think they are different because the physical processes occurring in the eye to cause this mental state is different

Question 5

what is the functional duplicate with no qualia issue for functionalism?

Answer 5

NED BLOCK: CHINA BRAIN
All Chinese population connected via walkie talkies to form a system that functions identically to a human brain. But it has no qualia, so there must be more to qualia than functions.

RESPONSE 1: it’s not fast enough, if it was faster it would have qualia. BUT speed doesn’t matter, even if China was going rlly fast it wouldn’t have qualia. BUT speed can change result e.g. whirly tube

RESPONSE 2: the population of China is too different to a brain for this to be a valid comparison. BUT this reinforces Block’s point as it shows that function isn’t enough for them to be comparable

RESPONSE 3: qualia doesn’t exist, the population of China is all there is to a brain

Question 6

what is the knowledge argument issue for functionalism?

Answer 6

Mary’s Room

Question 7

what is the Chinese Room thought experiment

Answer 7

someone in a room with access to all Chinese characters and their meanings could function as if they understand Chinese, but they don’t, so function isn’t enough

RESPONSE 1: the room as a whole understands Chinese, not just the person

RESPONSE 2: Machine state functionalism: to be a mind with mental states it has to be a Turing Machine (with complex functions enough to be able to independently develop new functions)

Question 8

how are functional states too liberal and broad?

Answer 8

functional states of inputs and outputs can be applied to range of physical systems
not all physical systems have mental states

—> RESPONSE: MACHINE STATE FUNCTIONALISM (Putnam)
Mental states are from Turing Machines; hugely complex machines of functional states which can create new functional states

      —> COUNTER RESPONSE: Chinese Room

Question 9

functionalism 25 marker

Answer 9

while functional states provide a good explanation of the role of mental states and their relationship with the body, it fails to explain what mental states actually are (as demonstrated by functional duplicates with inverted qualia, functional states being too broad, and China Brain). While it succeeds in answering the question of what mental states do it fails to address the issue of what they are and leave a gap in our understanding too large to ignore.

1. functional duplicates inverted qualia
   — colour blindness (BUT colour blindness isn’t inverted qualia)
2. functional states are too broad
   — machine state functionalism
   — chinese room
   — the room knows chinese
   — no it doesn’t a room doesn’t know anything so functions aren’t enough
3. China brain: functional replica with no qualia
   — humans too different to neurones (exactly)
   — too slow - whirly tube (BUT speed doesn’t matter as we can still imagine them to be mega mega fast and not be mental states)