Combining Philosophers

Ideas for Jerry A. Fodor, Plato and Michael della Rocca

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2 ideas

16. Persons / B. Nature of the Self / 3. Self as Non-physical
276 My individuality is my soul, which carries my body around [Plato]
     Full Idea: While I am alive I have nothing to thank for my individuality except my soul, whereas my body is just the likeness that I carry around with me.
     From: Plato (The Laws [c.348 BCE], 959a)
16. Persons / B. Nature of the Self / 6. Self as Higher Awareness
2506 If I have a set of mental modules, someone had better be in charge of them! [Fodor]
     Full Idea: If there is a community of computers living in my head, there had also better be somebody who is in charge; and, by God, it had better be me.
     From: Jerry A. Fodor (In a Critical Condition [2000], Ch.17)
     A reaction: Dennett quotes this as a quaintly old-fashioned view. I agree quite strongly with Fodor, for reasons that Dennett should like - evolutionary ones. A mind is a useless tool without central co-ordination. What makes my long-term plans? It isn't anarchy!