Mind-body Problem II

What is Functionalism in the mind-body problem?

Functionalism defines mental states by their functional role, not by physical composition or subjective experience.

How does Functionalism explain fear?

Fear is defined by what it causes someone to do, e.g., running away from danger.

What is an objection to functionalism?

Mental causation → Mental states, defined by their functional roles according to functionalism, can actually have causal efficacy in the physical world, potentially leading to the "exclusion problem" where the physical realization of a mental state seems to be the only true causal agent, effectively rendering the mental state itself causally inert.

What is Weak AI?

Computer models that mimic human cognition but do not have actual understanding.

What is Strong AI?

AI that not only mimics human cognition but also possesses real understanding.

What is the Turing Test?

A test where a machine tries to imitate human responses well enough to fool a human judge.

What does it mean if a machine passes the Turing Test?

It means the machine successfully mimics human-like conversation at least 30% of the time.

What is John Searle’s Chinese Room argument?

A thought experiment arguing that AI can process inputs and outputs without actual understanding.

What is the implication of the Chinese Room argument?

It suggests passing the Turing Test does not prove true understanding.

What is the Systems Reply to the Chinese Room argument?

While the individual in the room may not understand Chinese, the entire system (rules + person) does.

What does Ned Block’s Chinese Nation argument claim?

Functionalism is too liberal—if a large group of people acted like neurons, we wouldn’t call it a mind.It argues that mere functional organization does not equate to consciousness or mental states.

What is Eliminative Materialism?

The belief that mental states (like beliefs and desires) do not exist, only the physical brain does.

How does Eliminative Materialism view Santa Claus?

Santa is eliminated in favor of the explanation that parents place gifts under the tree.

What is Folk Psychology?

The traditional way of explaining human behavior through beliefs and desires.

Why does Churchland argue for eliminating Folk Psychology?

Because it fails to explain things like sleep, memory, learning, and mental illness.

What is an alternative to Folk Psychology?

Neuroscience, which seeks strict, exception-free laws for human behavior.

What is an objection to Eliminative Materialism?

Mental states are real because we can introspect them.

How does Churchland respond to the objection to Eliminative Materialism?

He argues that introspection is often mistaken and theory-laden.

What is the computer metaphor from Fodor?

Explains functionalism. A line of code is defined by what it does in the program, not in its hardware. Mental states are defined by the influence they have on the behaviour of people who have them, not on their physical correlates.