Single Idea 3514

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

Full Idea

The functionalist approach to the mind needs to invoke assumptions about what desires are for and beliefs are about, in order to infer what agents will do.

Gist of Idea

Functionalism needs causation and intentionality to explain actions

Source

David Papineau (Philosophical Naturalism [1993], 3.2)

Book Reference

Papineau,David: 'Philosophical Naturalism' [Blackwell 1993], p.57


A Reaction

Isn't the idea that you discover what desires are for and what beliefs are about by examining their function, and what the agent does? Which end should we start?