Combining Philosophers

Ideas for Francois-Marie Voltaire, John Searle and Barbara Vetter

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2 ideas

17. Mind and Body / B. Behaviourism / 4. Behaviourism Critique
Mental states only relate to behaviour contingently, not necessarily [Searle]
     Full Idea: I believe that the relation of mental states to behaviour is purely contingent.
     From: John Searle (The Rediscovery of the Mind [1992], Ch. 1.V.5)
     A reaction: I don't think I agree, though it will depend on where you draw the line between mental states and behaviour. Since there have never been two identical states since the beginning of time, it is a little hard to test this one.
Wanting H2O only differs from wanting water in its mental component [Searle]
     Full Idea: If a person exhibits water-seeking behaviour, they also exhibit H2O-seeking behaviour, so there is no way the behaviour itself, without reference to a mental component, can constitute wanting water rather than H2O.
     From: John Searle (The Rediscovery of the Mind [1992], Ch. 7.II.4)
     A reaction: What about the behaviour of responding to the discovery that this stuff isn't actually H2O? Or the disposition to choose the real thing rather than ersatz water? An interesting comment, though.