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Full Idea
There is debate about whether we attribute beliefs and desires to others, and predict their behaviour, by simulating the decisions we would make ourselves ('simulation-theory'), or by deducing them from some general theory ('theory-theory').
Gist of Idea
Do we understand other minds by simulation-theory, or by theory-theory?
Source
David Papineau (Thinking about Consciousness [2002], 4.7)
Book Ref
Papineau,David: 'Thinking about Consciousness' [OUP 2004], p.115
A Reaction
Could be both. If someone is hurt, empathy leads to direct mind-reading (which seems like simulation), but if someone is behaving strangely we may have to bring theories to bear, because this person seems to be different.