Similarities + differences for theories

Question 1

State the similarities/differences between Hard + Soft Behaviourism

Answer 1

Similarities;

• There both physicalist theories
• They both focus on explaining mental states + behaviour

Differences;

• Ryles argues dispositions are indefinitely heterogenous whereas Hempel argues there’s finite translations
• There’s translation of statements for Hempel whereas Ryles places explicit emphasis on dispositions
• Hard behaviourism ficuses on translating statements + argues this can be achieved without loss of meaning to talk exclusively of behaviour/physical whereas Soft behaviourism focuses on category mistakes.

Question 2

State the similarities/differences between Behaviourism + Eliminative Materialism

Answer 2

Similarities;

• There both physicalist
• They both reject qualia + mental states
• Both theories are that language ultimately confuses us ie eliminativism argues folk psychology is the problem + behaviourism argues its a category mistake

Differences;

• For behaviourism mental states are just
  behaviour whereas for eliminativism the other the actual language + way in which we talk about the mind/the mental needs to be changed
• Eliminativism places emphasis on neuroscine
  having the answers but Hard Behaviourism is a translation project
• Behavourism rejects talk of mental concepts whereas Eliminativism mental concepts that they need to changed.

Question 3

State the similartities/differences between functionalism + behaviourism

Answer 3

Similarities;

• Both agree mental states CAN be understood in terms of physical properties ie behaviourism there fully reducible to talk exclusively of the physical + functionalism argues mental states can be reducible to physical functional properties in some cases

Differences;

• Functionalism is ontologically neutral they just tend to be physicalists whereas behaviourists are physicalist
• Functionalism argues metal states can eb understood in terms of ontologically natural functional properties + inputs/outputs whereas behaviourism argues mental states are purely behaviour