IMM Flashcards
Define a ‘Mental State’.
A state that a mind is in.
Define the ‘Mind’.
Something that has mental states.
State the types of ‘Mental States’.
1) Sensations (Physical)
2) Perceptions (Quasi-Perceptions are when you perceive something that is not real e.g. dreams)
3) Cognitive/Epistemic Mental States (Represent how we think the world is)
4) Motivational States (Represent how we want the world to be)
5) Emotions (Feelings)
Define ‘Intentionality’.
In Metaphysics of the Mind, Intentionality is the property of being about something (other than itself).
State the characteristics of ‘Mental States with Intentionality’.
1) Intentional Content (A subject the mental state is about).
2) Non-Intrinsic / Relational Properties (Understanding them requires understanding of how the mental state relates to something else).
Define ‘Qualia’.
In Metaphysics of the Mind, Qualia is the property of its subject being itself only.
State the characteristics of ‘Mental States with Qualia’.
1) Phenomenal Properties (Properties of how a mental state feels).
2) Intrinsic / Non-Intentional Properties (Understanding them does not require understanding of how it relates to something else).
3) Introspectively Accessible (We can know about these properties by direct awareness of them in our mind).
Summarise ‘Dualism’.
Dualism is the view in Metaphysics of the Mind that mental states are, in some way, non-physical.
State the types of ‘Dualism’.
1) Substance Dualism - The belief that the mind is completely separate to the physical world.
2) Property Dualism - The belief that mental states are non-physical properties of physical brains
Summarise ‘Physicalism’.
Physicalism is the view in Metaphysics of the Mind that mental states are physical or supervenes on the physical.
State the types of ‘Physicalism’.
1) Mind-brain type identity theory - Mental states are just brain states.
2) Philosophical Behaviourism - When we talk about the mind we are just talking about someone’s behaviour.
3) Eliminative Materialism -The mind doesn’t exist (not at least in the way we think of it).
Summarise ‘Functionalism’.
Functionalism is the view in Metaphysics of the Mind that mental states are functions.
