more on this theme | more from this thinker
Full Idea
The laws of associations were held to explicate the semantic coherence of intentional processes, which adjust the causal relations among Ideas to reflect corresponding relations among the things that they're ideas of.
Clarification
Hume's associations were 'resemblance, contiguity (closeness), and causation'
Gist of Idea
Associations are held to connect Ideas together in the way the world is connected together
Source
Jerry A. Fodor (Jerry A. Fodor on himself [1994], p.296)
Book Ref
'A Companion to the Philosophy of Mind', ed/tr. Guttenplan,Samuel [Blackwell 1995], p.296
A Reaction
With the support of evolution, and the backing of a correspondence theory of truth, plus more sophistication in the associations, this might work.
| 3975 | Folk psychology explains behaviour by reference to intentional states like belief and desire [Fodor] |
| 3976 | Intentional science needs objects with semantic and causal properties, and which obey laws [Fodor] |
| 3977 | Laws are true generalisations which support counterfactuals and are confirmed by instances [Fodor] |
| 3978 | Associations are held to connect Ideas together in the way the world is connected together [Fodor] |
| 3980 | Intentional states and processes may be causal relations among mental symbols [Fodor] |
| 3981 | Most psychological properties seem to be multiply realisable [Fodor] |
| 3982 | How could the extrinsic properties of thoughts supervene on their intrinsic properties? [Fodor] |