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20 th Century Views on Mind and Body

20 th Century Views on Mind and Body. Logical Behaviorism (Gilbert Ryle): “mind” refers simply to a way of speaking about behaviors. (1900-76). Mind-Brain (Identity) Theory : states of consciousness & thoughts are simply brain states (“reductive materialism”)

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20 th Century Views on Mind and Body

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  1. 20th Century Views on Mind and Body • Logical Behaviorism (Gilbert Ryle): “mind” refers simply to a way of speaking about behaviors (1900-76) • Mind-Brain (Identity) Theory: states of consciousness & thoughts are simply brain states (“reductive materialism”) • Problem: consciousness & brain states have different properties (e.g., consciousness is not spatial) J. J. C. Smart (1920- )

  2. More 20th Century Theories of Mind • Eliminative Materialism: we should replace terms like “thought” with purely material expressions Paul Churchland (1942 - ) Functionalism: mental states are patterned associations of sensory stimuli and behaviors; these associations are not tied to any particular anatomical mechanism Jerry Fodor (1935 - )

  3. Minds and Machines • Epiphenomenalism: “conscious” activity is simply the result of physical (“automatic”) organization Thomas Huxley (1825-95) • Objection: to say that a being thinks or feels pain is not to describe anything; it is to reveal how we speak (which is linked to a network of other beliefs) Ludwig Wittgenstein (1889-1951)

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