Single Idea 4074

[catalogued under 17. Mind and Body / A. Mind-Body Dualism / 6. Epiphenomenalism]

Full Idea

Functionalism holds that it is in the nature of certain mental states to have certain effects; therefore there can be no mental epiphenomena.

Clarification

Epiphenomena are side effects which play no causal role in events

Gist of Idea

Functionalism defines mental states by their causal properties, which rules out epiphenomenalism

Source

Tim Crane (Elements of Mind [2001], 2.14)

Book Reference

Crane,Tim: 'Elements of Mind' [OUP 2001], p.51


A Reaction

I strongly resist the idea that a thing's identity is its function. Functionalism may not say that. Mind is an abstraction referring to a causal nexus of unknowable components.