Single Idea 3010

[catalogued under 18. Thought / B. Mechanics of Thought / 4. Language of Thought]

Full Idea

A defence of the language of thought has to be an argument that believing and desiring are typically structured states.

Gist of Idea

Belief and desire are structured states, which need mentalese

Source

Jerry A. Fodor (Psychosemantics [1987], p.136)

Book Reference

Fodor,Jerry A.: 'Psychosemantics' [MIT 1993], p.136


A Reaction

A structure is one thing, and a language is another. Both believings and desirings can be extremely vague, to the point where the owner is unsure what is believed or desired. They can, of course, be extremely precise.