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Single Idea 4983
[filed under theme 17. Mind and Body / B. Behaviourism / 4. Behaviourism Critique
]
Full Idea
We know too much about thought and behaviour to trust exact and universal statements linking them. Beliefs and desires issue in behaviour only as modified and mediated by further beliefs and desires, attitudes and attendings, without limit.
Gist of Idea
There are no rules linking thought and behaviour, because endless other thoughts intervene
Source
Donald Davidson (Mental Events [1970], p.217)
Book Ref
Davidson,Donald: 'Essays on Actions and Events' [OUP 1982], p.217
A Reaction
Now seen as a key objection to behaviourism, and rightly so. However, I am not sure about "without limit", which implies an implausible absolute metaphysical freedom. Davidson goes too far in denying any nomological link between thought and brain.
The
25 ideas
with the same theme
[reasons why behaviourism is false]:
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6433
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Behaviourists struggle to explain memory and imagination, because they won't admit images
[Russell]
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5778
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If we object to all data which is 'introspective' we will cease to believe in toothaches
[Russell]
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2387
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How can behaviour be the cause of behaviour?
[Chalmers on Ryle]
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2568
|
Beliefs aren't tied to particular behaviours
[Geach]
|
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3460
|
Superactors and superspartans count against behaviourism
[Putnam, by Searle]
|
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2591
|
Total paralysis would mean that there were mental states but no behaviour at all
[Putnam]
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4983
|
There are no rules linking thought and behaviour, because endless other thoughts intervene
[Davidson]
|
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3458
|
Mental states only relate to behaviour contingently, not necessarily
[Searle]
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3485
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Wanting H2O only differs from wanting water in its mental component
[Searle]
|
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3370
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What behaviour goes with mathematical beliefs?
[Kim]
|
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3371
|
Behaviour depends on lots of mental states together
[Kim]
|
|
3372
|
Behaviour is determined by society as well as mental states
[Kim]
|
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3373
|
Snakes have different pain behaviour from us
[Kim]
|
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3001
|
Behaviourism has no theory of mental causation
[Fodor]
|
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4990
|
The inverted spectrum idea is often regarded as an objection to behaviourism
[Kirk,R]
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2950
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Only logical positivists ever believed behaviourism
[Lockwood]
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3167
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Animals don't just respond to stimuli, they experiment
[Rey]
|
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3173
|
How are stimuli and responses 'similar'?
[Rey]
|
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3179
|
Behaviour is too contingent and irrelevant to be the mind
[Rey]
|
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5347
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Behaviourism notoriously has nothing to say about mental causation
[Flanagan]
|
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4267
|
Conditioning may change behaviour without changing the mind
[Scruton]
|
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6554
|
Two behaviourists meet. The first says,"You're fine; how am I?"
[Lycan]
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4595
|
No mental state entails inevitable behaviour, because other beliefs or desires may intervene
[Heil]
|
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6621
|
You can only identify behaviour by ascribing belief, so the behaviour can't explain the belief
[Lowe]
|
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9392
|
How do behaviourists greet each other?
[Sommers,W]
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