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Single Idea 2988
[filed under theme 18. Thought / A. Modes of Thought / 4. Folk Psychology
]
Full Idea
Commonsense belief/desire psychology explains vastly more of the facts about behaviour than any of the alternative theories available. It could hardly fail to; there are no alternative theories available.
Gist of Idea
Folk psychology is the only explanation of behaviour we have
Source
Jerry A. Fodor (Psychosemantics [1987], p.x)
Book Ref
Fodor,Jerry A.: 'Psychosemantics' [MIT 1993], p.-7
A Reaction
The alternative view wouldn't expect a clear-cut theory, because it deals with the endless complexity of brain events. The charge is that Fodor and co oversimplify their account, in their desperation for a 'theory'.
The
19 ideas
with the same theme
[is the truth about minds found in normal speech?]:
2074
|
Can we give a scientific, computational account of folk psychology?
[Putnam]
|
3462
|
We don't postulate folk psychology, we experience it
[Searle]
|
6996
|
Folk psychology covers input, internal role, and output
[Jackson]
|
3387
|
A culture without our folk psychology would be quite baffling
[Kim]
|
3386
|
Folk psychology has been remarkably durable
[Kim]
|
3394
|
Maybe folk psychology is a simulation, not a theory
[Kim]
|
3410
|
Folk psychology has adapted to Freudianism
[Kim]
|
3992
|
Folk psychology makes good predictions, by associating mental states with causal roles
[Lewis]
|
7518
|
If folk psychology gives a network of causal laws, that fits neatly with functionalism
[Churchland,PM]
|
7519
|
Many mental phenomena are totally unexplained by folk psychology
[Churchland,PM]
|
7520
|
Folk psychology never makes any progress, and is marginalised by modern science
[Churchland,PM]
|
3987
|
Like the 'centre of gravity', desires and beliefs are abstract concepts with no actual existence
[Dennett]
|
3177
|
You couldn't drive a car without folk psychology
[Dennett]
|
3975
|
Folk psychology explains behaviour by reference to intentional states like belief and desire
[Fodor]
|
2988
|
Folk psychology is the only explanation of behaviour we have
[Fodor]
|
2987
|
Folk psychology works badly for alien cultures
[Lyons]
|
4607
|
Folk psychology and neuroscience are no more competitors than cartography and geology are
[Heil]
|
3112
|
Folk psychology is ridiculously dualist in its assumptions
[Segal]
|
15680
|
Folk essentialism rests on belief in natural kinds, in hidden properties, and on words indicating structures
[Gelman]
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