Single Idea 23225

[catalogued under 17. Mind and Body / C. Functionalism / 2. Machine Functionalism]

Full Idea

All the soul's faculties depend so much on the specific organisation of the brain and of the whole body that they are clearly nothing but that organisation.

Gist of Idea

The soul's faculties depend on the brain, and are simply the brain's organisation

Source

Julien Offray de La Mettrie (Machine Man [1747], p.26)

Book Reference

La Mettrie,Julien Offray de: 'Machine Man and Other Writings', ed/tr. Thomson,Ann [CUP 1996], p.26


A Reaction

An interesting idea because it suggests that La Mettrie is a functionalist, rather than simply a reductive physicalist.