Single Idea 2578

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

Full Idea

If pain is a functional state, it cannot be a brain state, because creatures without brains could realise the same Turing machine as creatures with brains.

Gist of Idea

Could a creature without a brain be in the right functional state for pain?

Source

Ned Block (Troubles with Functionalism [1978], p. 70)

Book Reference

'The Philosophy of Mind', ed/tr. Beakley,B /Ludlow P [MIT 1992], p.70


A Reaction

This strikes me as being a poorly grounded claim. There may be some hypothetical world where brainless creatures implement all our functions, but from here brains look the only plausible option.