Single Idea 2464

[catalogued under 17. Mind and Body / E. Mind as Physical / 1. Physical Mind]

Full Idea

Type physicalism is, roughly, the doctrine that psychological kinds are identical to neurological kinds.

Clarification

'Type physicalism' says a given type of mental event is inseparable from a given type of physical event.

Gist of Idea

Type physicalism equates mental kinds with physical kinds

Source

Jerry A. Fodor (The Elm and the Expert [1993], App A n.1)

Book Reference

Fodor,Jerry A.: 'The Elm and the Expert' [MIT 1995], p.126


A Reaction

This gets my general support, leaving open the nature of 'kinds'. Presumably the identity is strict, as in 'Hesperus is identical to Phosphorus'. It seems unlikely that if you and I think the 'same' thought, that we have strictly identical brain states.