more on this theme
|
more from this thinker
Single Idea 6538
[filed under theme 26. Natural Theory / A. Speculations on Nature / 2. Natural Purpose / b. Limited purposes
]
Full Idea
We need a notion of teleology that comes in degrees.
Clarification
'Teleology' concerns purposes
Gist of Idea
We need a notion of teleology that comes in degrees
Source
William Lycan (Consciousness [1987], 4.4)
Book Ref
Lycan,William G.: 'Consciousness' [MIT 1995], p.45
A Reaction
Anyone who says that key concepts, such as those concerning the mind, should come 'in degrees' wins my instant support. A whole car engine requires a very teleological explanation, the spark in the sparkplug far less so.
The
24 ideas
from 'Consciousness'
6527
|
If energy in the brain disappears into thin air, this breaches physical conservation laws
[Lycan]
|
6528
|
In lower animals, psychology is continuous with chemistry, and humans are continuous with animals
[Lycan]
|
6529
|
I see the 'role'/'occupant' distinction as fundamental to metaphysics
[Lycan]
|
6532
|
Types cannot be reduced, but levels of reduction are varied groupings of the same tokens
[Lycan]
|
6531
|
Institutions are not reducible as types, but they are as tokens
[Lycan]
|
6534
|
One location may contain molecules, a metal strip, a key, an opener of doors, and a human tragedy
[Lycan]
|
6535
|
Teleological characterisations shade off smoothly into brutely physical ones
[Lycan]
|
6533
|
Mental types are a subclass of teleological types at a high level of functional abstraction
[Lycan]
|
6530
|
We reduce the mind through homuncular groups, described abstractly by purpose
[Lycan]
|
6538
|
We need a notion of teleology that comes in degrees
[Lycan]
|
6539
|
The distinction between software and hardware is not clear in computing
[Lycan]
|
6536
|
Teleological functionalism helps us to understand psycho-biological laws
[Lycan]
|
6537
|
Teleological views allow for false intentional content, unlike causal and nomological theories
[Lycan]
|
6541
|
Functionalism must not be too abstract to allow inverted spectrum, or so structural that it becomes chauvinistic
[Lycan]
|
6544
|
Identity theory is functionalism, but located at the lowest level of abstraction
[Lycan]
|
6545
|
If functionalism focuses on folk psychology, it ignores lower levels of function
[Lycan]
|
6543
|
Intentionality comes in degrees
[Lycan]
|
6542
|
A Martian may exhibit human-like behaviour while having very different sensations
[Lycan]
|
6546
|
Pain is composed of urges, desires, impulses etc, at different levels of abstraction
[Lycan]
|
6547
|
The right 'level' for qualia is uncertain, though top (behaviourism) and bottom (particles) are false
[Lycan]
|
6548
|
Physicalism requires the naturalisation or rejection of set theory
[Lycan]
|
6549
|
I think greenness is a complex microphysical property of green objects
[Lycan]
|
6551
|
'Physical' means either figuring in physics descriptions, or just located in space-time
[Lycan]
|
6554
|
Two behaviourists meet. The first says,"You're fine; how am I?"
[Lycan]
|