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Single Idea 18033
[filed under theme 19. Language / A. Nature of Meaning / 7. Meaning Holism / c. Meaning by Role
]
Full Idea
According to conceptual role semantics, the meaning of a representation is the role of that representation in the cognitive life of the agent, for example, in perception, thought and decision-making.
Gist of Idea
The meaning of a representation is its role in thought, perception or decisions
Source
Ned Block (Semantics, Conceptual Role [1998])
Book Ref
'Shorter Routledge Encyclopaedia of Philosophy', ed/tr. Craig,Edward [Routledge 2005], p.955
A Reaction
I never believe theories of this kind, because I always find myself asking 'what is the nature of this representation which enables it to play this role?'.
The
16 ideas
from Ned Block
6172
|
The Inverted Earth example shows that phenomenal properties are not representational
[Block, by Rowlands]
|
18033
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The meaning of a representation is its role in thought, perception or decisions
[Block]
|
2574
|
Behaviour requires knowledge as well as dispositions
[Block]
|
2575
|
Functionalism is behaviourism, but with mental states as intermediaries
[Block]
|
2576
|
In functionalism, desires are internal states with causal relations
[Block]
|
2578
|
Could a creature without a brain be in the right functional state for pain?
[Block]
|
2577
|
Simple machine-functionalism says mind just is a Turing machine
[Block]
|
2580
|
A Turing machine, given a state and input, specifies an output and the next state
[Block]
|
2579
|
Physicalism is prejudiced in favour of our neurology, when other systems might have minds
[Block]
|
2581
|
Intuition may say that a complex sentence is ungrammatical, but linguistics can show that it is not
[Block]
|
2582
|
A brain looks no more likely than anything else to cause qualia
[Block]
|
2583
|
You might invert colours, but you can't invert beliefs
[Block]
|
2584
|
Lobotomised patients can cease to care about a pain
[Block]
|
2585
|
Not just any old functional network will have mental states
[Block]
|
2586
|
In functionalism, what are the special inputs and outputs of conscious creatures?
[Block]
|
3178
|
A fast machine could pass all behavioural tests with a vast lookup table
[Block, by Rey]
|