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Full Idea
It may be that intentional states are relations to mental symbols, and mental processes are implemented by causal relations among these symbols.
Clarification
'Intentional' states are 'about' something, with meaning and content
Gist of Idea
Intentional states and processes may be causal relations among mental symbols
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
It is hard to see how something could have causal powers just by being a symbol. The theory needs something else to drive the causation.
| 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] |