Single Idea 3408

[catalogued under 18. Thought / C. Content / 5. Twin Earth]

Full Idea

States that have the same intrinsic properties - the same neural/physical properties - may have different contents if they are embedded in different environments.

Gist of Idea

Two identical brain states could have different contents in different worlds

Source

Jaegwon Kim (Philosophy of Mind [1996], p.146)

Book Reference

Kim,Jaegwon: 'Philosophy of Mind' [Westview 1998], p.146


A Reaction

This is a way of expressing externalism. It depends what you mean by 'contents'. I struggle to see how "H2O" could be the content of the word 'water' among ancient Greeks.