Functionalism Flashcards
What is functionalism?
View that mental states should be explained in terms of causal roles. Mental states have a certain type of function in overall behaviour of organism.
Cf. carburettor.
What are the origins of functionalism?
Response to behaviourist’s inability to account for multiple realisability.
Also fit with computationalism.
What are inverted spectra?
Switch R and G messages from retina to visual cortex. State produced by R things normally state produced by G things. (Can discriminate between R and G.) State A: produced by R things. A will play different causal role as state normally produced by G things.
Why do inverted spectra cases pose problem for functionalism?
What conscious experience will X have in state A? A share same causal role as state normally produced by R things. But A will be consciously like state produced by G things.
Therefore: if functional role of A classifies it with state produced by R things, but is consciously like state produced by G things, functionalism failed to capture conscious aspect of state.
Outline two responses to inverted spectra.
- Deny states are consciously different. If same functional role then feel same.
Rep: OK for pain. Not for colour (not closely related to functional role). - Lewis’ sophisticated functionalism.
What is Lewis’ sophisticated functionalism?
Pain = whatever occupies causal role of pain for appropriate population (us, X, not exception, natural kind).
What is Lewis’ madman? What is Lewis’ Martian? Vis-a-vis pain.
Madman - same physical basis, different causal role (light exercise).
Martian - same causal role, different physical basis (swelling in feet).
