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Single Idea 2598

[filed under theme 17. Mind and Body / E. Mind as Physical / 7. Anti-Physicalism / b. Multiple realisability ]

Full Idea

If one of your reasons for doubting that believing-that-P is a physical property is that believing is multiply realizable, then you have the same reason for doubting that being an airfoil (or a mountain) counts as a physical property.

Gist of Idea

Lots of physical properties are multiply realisable, so why shouldn't beliefs be?

Source

Jerry A. Fodor (Making Mind Matter More [1989], p.153)

Book Ref

'The Philosophy of Mind', ed/tr. Beakley,B /Ludlow P [MIT 1992], p.153


A Reaction

This merely points out that functionalism is not incompatible with physicalism, which must be right.


The 3 ideas from 'Making Mind Matter More'

Contrary to the 'anomalous monist' view, there may well be intentional causal laws [Fodor]
Lots of physical properties are multiply realisable, so why shouldn't beliefs be? [Fodor]
Either intentionality causes things, or epiphenomenalism is true [Fodor]