Single Idea 2418

[catalogued under 17. Mind and Body / C. Functionalism / 8. Functionalism critique]

Full Idea

While it may be intuitively implausible that Block's 'mind' made of the population of China would give rise to conscious experience, it is equally intuitively implausible that a brain should give rise to experience.

Gist of Idea

The Chinese Mind doesn't seem conscious, but then nor do brains from outside

Source

David J.Chalmers (The Conscious Mind [1996], 3.7.2)

Book Reference

Chalmers,David J.: 'The Conscious Mind' [OUP 1997], p.251


A Reaction

This sounds like good support for functionalism, but I am more inclined to see it as a critique of 'intuition' as a route to truth where minds are concerned. Intuition isn't designed for that sort of work.