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Full Idea
Teleological functions help explain why a trait has come to exist; causal-role functions tell what a trait does or is apt to do.
Clarification
'Teleology' concerns purposes
Gist of Idea
Teleological functions explain why a trait exists; causal-role functions say what it does
Source
Thomas W. Polger (Natural Minds [2004], §5.4)
Book Ref
Polger,Thomas W.: 'Natural Minds' [MIT 2004], p.174
A Reaction
The teleological view has the merit of nesting nicely with the theory of evolution, and with Aristotelian virtue ethics (which I like). Causal-role functionalism focuses better on what is actually happening inside the head.
| 7438 | A causal theory of mentality would be improved by a teleological element [Armstrong] |
| 6533 | Mental types are a subclass of teleological types at a high level of functional abstraction [Lycan] |
| 6535 | Teleological characterisations shade off smoothly into brutely physical ones [Lycan] |
| 5499 | A mental state is a functional realisation of a brain state when it serves the purpose of the organism [Lycan] |
| 6378 | Teleological functions explain why a trait exists; causal-role functions say what it does [Polger] |