monism semantic physicalism

Question 1

what is semantic physicalism (/logical behaviorism/analytic behaviorism)

Answer 1

It is possible to define every mental expression

in terms of behavioral and physical expressions

Question 2

How does functionalism differ from logical behaviorism (semantic physicalism)?

Answer 2

functionalism basically says that mental states initiate physical states
LB says mental states initate behavioral dispositions

Behaviorism reduces mental states to behavioral reactions. Functionalism claims that mental states
can be individuated as set of inputs (stimuli), outputs (responses), and internal states. Behaviorism
excludes the internal states.

Question 3

what is physicalism?

Answer 3

• positive facts determined by physical facts
• no change of positive facts, without change of physical facts
• mental states are physical states
• Modern physicalism is behavioristic. Consciousness is either a special type
  of behavior or a disposition to behave in a certain way.
• claims that everything is physical

Question 4

who said what (advocates)

Answer 4

Hempel (physicalism)
Carnap (semantic reductionism)
Ryle (semantic physicalism)

Focused on the question, how to analyze and understand the vocabulary we
use to talk about mental states

Question 5

Gilbert Ryle (1900-1976) said what

Answer 5

• The Concept of Mind (1949) :
  “carteisian myth” - internal shadow-performance in addition to behavior (because Descartes was an advocate of introspection and according to SP no such thing …?)
• mind is the inverse reflection of the body
• is basically saying, that our behavior is a very accurate representation of what’s going on in our minds : mentalistic talk means behavioral dispositions

i.e.
intelligence, is the ability to solve a problem or
pain, is the disposition to take a drug

Question 6

deepening of what ryle said

Answer 6

not spatial - but within the body
so physicalism but within ?

category mistake of dualism:

• “mentalistic and physicalist expressions can be used in the same context”
• “mental events interact or occur in parallel with physical events”
• -> we make conceptual/catgorical mistakes when speaking

Per Ryle, talking about the differences between “minds” and “bodies” (how descartes does it) is deeply
misleading. In fact, it hinges on a basic sort of logical error — a CATEGORY MISTAKE

Question 7

objections to semantic physicalism

Answer 7

• infinity of explanation: trying to define mental predicates in a solely
physical language is an infinite endeavor
• infinity of qualifications: qualifications themselves entail mental
concepts and we therefore run into a cycle

Question 8

what is semantics?

Answer 8

the meaning, the reference of an expression

Question 9

Logical behaviorism

Answer 9

• Beliefs and desires inhering in an unobservable mind do not exist. These terms actually refer to publicly observable events, i.e. in
  dispositions to behave in a certain way
• The meaning of mental terms and concepts derives from, and is used to identify,
  sets of behavioral dispositions or tendencies

Question 10

logical behaviorism equals scientific behaviorism. true or false?

Answer 10

false