Philosophy of Mind

Brief History
Metaphysics Philosophy of Mind

Epistemology

Philosophy of Language

Metaphysics

Whats out there?

Epistemology
How can I know whats out there?

Philosophy of Language
What do you mean by what is out there?

Philosophy of Mind

What can I know?

The Mind

Central Role
Supplementary Role

The Questions
What is the nature of the Mind?

 What are the distinguishing factors of the Mind?

 How does the Mind interact with the Body?

MINDs Existence

Non-Materialist

Materialist

DUALIST

Non-Materialist
Idealism Non-physical minds truly exist Physical world is an illusion To be is to be perceived Proponents: Berkeley, Hegel

DUALIST
Both physical objects and non-physical minds exist Proponent: Rene Descartes The movement of mind and matter: Mind - free and indestructible Matter - determined and destructible

Materialist

Differences:
Mental states = physical States of the body

Mental states = higher level Physical states

Non-Realist
Through Elimination

Through Reduction

Through Elimination
Eliminativist Materialist:
Proposed by Paul and Patricia Churchland. The Mind is based on a folk theory and shall eventually be replaced by an advance in science.

Intrumentalism:
Proposed by Daniel Dennett. The Mind (more precisely, mental states) is just a tool used by humans to predict something that one has no sufficient knowledge about.

Eliminative Materialism
Common-sense beliefs that there are mental states (MS) in addition to brain states & MS causes some of our bodily movements is outdated and a mistaken theory of the brain Some defects of the folk theory: 1. The nature of mental illness 2. Rich variety of perceptual illusions 3. Faculty of creative imagination and the function of sleep

Instrumentalism
The prediction of behaviors is vital to ones survival and in trying to predict, one adopts a stance most suited for the situation. 3 types of stance that are used for prediction: 1. Physical stance having knowledge on the physical constitution of the object and the physical laws governing such constitution

2. Design stance based on our knowledge of the functions that something is designed to perform 3. Intentional stance predicting the behavior of something by attributing mental states to it. We simply use design and intentional stances in cases where we cannot use the physical stance due to the lack of knowledge

Through Reduction
Behaviorism:
Mental states are external physical movements of the body (also known as behaviors)

Identity-theory:
The Mind is nothing but the brain. Proposed by Place, Smart and Feigl. Science will eventually reduce all mental states to brain states.

Behaviorism
Two types of behaviorism: Logical proposed by Gilbert Ryle Behaviors are expressed in terms of logical relations between mental terms and behavioral terms Methodological proposed by Watson & Skinner Mental phenomena are measured in terms of the relations between observable inputs and outputs

Identity Theory
Two types of identity theory: Type if two types are the same then al their tokens must be the same in all possible situations
Charged with Neuronal Chauvinism limiting mentality to humans

Token if two tokens are identical, the types that they instantiate need not always be identical
There is a possibility of losing its stance in either materialist or non-realist

Realist

Functionalism
Mental states = Functional states:
A functional State is 1. A physical state of a physical system with regard its functional organization. 2. An internal state of a physical system definable in terms of its causal relations (Input internal causation - output) 3. Multiply realizable

Input

Functional State

Output

Computationalism
The mind is a computer Program or a complex of Such programs that are Implemented in some Hardware (brain) and Mental states are the computational states of a running computer program.

Strong AI
Strong AI aka classical/symbolic computationalism. - symbolic: defines computin that occurs in the thinking as basically a process of manipulating symbols to some rules - Computing is a step-by-step process

Connectionism
Artificial neural network approach (ANNA) - Uses a computer model of the neural networks of human brains to explain the computing process of the mind Computing process in the mind are interactions among the units of artificial networks Parallel distributed processing network

Difference: Strong AI & Connectionism

A
Strong AI

A
Connectionism

Biological Naturalism
The biological nature of the Brain is essential for producing Mental states and their Properties this claim disputes Against functionalisms principle Of multiply realizability which Claims that the material stuff is not important.

Quantum Theory of Consciousness

Mental states = noncomputational quantum states of the microtubules of the brain. Non-computationality of the brain Is the consequence of Kurt Godels Incompleteness theorm

Q&A
1. What theory requires the importance of evolution for the occurrence of the mind? A. Idealism B. Behaviorism C. Biological Naturalism D. Functionalism

2. What is ANNA? A. Android Network Neutral Association B. Artificial Neural Network Association C. Android Network Neutral Approach D. Artificial Neural Network Approach E. Artificial Network Neutral Approach

3. What theory is Quantum view of consciousness specifically against? A. Computationalism B. Functionalism C. Instrumentalism D. Biological Naturalism

4. Philosophy is not concerned about what type of Behaviorism A. Logical Behaviorism B. Realist Behaviorism C. Non-realist Behaviorism D. Methodological Behaviorism E. Psychological Behaviorism

5. Dualism is divided in to? A. token & type dualism B. idealism & materialism C. non-realist & realist D. substance & instantiation E. substance & property