Functionalism Flashcards
What is functionalism
Functionalism is committed to the physicalist approach to the mind which states that all mental states are functions of the brain – i.e. there is no immaterial mind. A function is the role something does or performs – e.g. a clocks function is to keep time, an eyes function is to see. Even though there are lots of different eyes and its composed of many things, it has a singular function. David Cameron’s function is to Govern the country – but a robot could do the same. It is not the physical organisation of something we recognise it by, but its function.
How can we understand functionalism through abstraction
When your teacher draws three lines connected on the black board and asks you what is it, you don’t say three squiggly lines, rather a triangle. You are referring to the abstraction of a triangle. This higher level triangle however isn’t like the Form Triangle as Plato would say, it is simply a triangle by virtue of which all triangles are triangles (three sides, three internal angles, adding to 180).
What is the defining nature of mental states if they’re functions
Causal functionalism – i.e. pain is an abstract causal property. Imagine putting your hand on the stove, the sensory inputs result in you being in pain because pain exists in relationships to other states of minds such as “ouch” or “remove hand” etc. pain is just a relationship – remember this is not behaviourism.
Why are mental states “nodes in a causal network”
Pain and any other mental state is dependent on this network. What he is saying therefore is mental states do not exist singularly – they depend on other mental states working together (remember when he says mental states he means functions). For example, when you burn your hand, you have multiple mental states occurring (pain state, desire for ointment, belief ointment is in first aid kit etc.) A sensory input will have a behavioural output.
