Full Idea
The functionalist must find a level of characterisation of mental states that is not so abstract or behaviouristic as to rule out the possibility of inverted spectrum etc., nor so specific and structural as to fall into chauvinism.
Clarification
'Chauvinistic' implies that only human brains could have most of our experiences
Gist of Idea
Functionalism must not be too abstract to allow inverted spectrum, or so structural that it becomes chauvinistic
Source
William Lycan (Consciousness [1987], 5.4)
Book Reference
Lycan,William G.: 'Consciousness' [MIT 1995], p.54
A Reaction
If too specific then animals and aliens won't be able to implement the necessary functions; if the theory becomes very behaviouristic, then it loses interest in the possibility of an inverted spectrum. He is certainly right to hunt for a middle ground.