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Full Idea
Folk psychology has not progressed significantly in the last 2500 years; if anything, it has been steadily in retreat during this period; it does not integrate with modern science, and its emerging wallflower status bodes ill for its future.
Gist of Idea
Folk psychology never makes any progress, and is marginalised by modern science
Source
Paul M. Churchland (Folk Psychology [1996], III)
Book Ref
Churchland,Paul and Patricia: 'On the Contrary: critical essays 1987-1997' [MIT 1998], p.8
A Reaction
[compressed] However, while shares in alchemy and astrology have totally collapsed, folk psychology shows not the slightest sign of going away, and it is unclear how it ever could. See Idea 3177.
Related Idea
Idea 3177 You couldn't drive a car without folk psychology [Dennett]
| 4988 | Folk psychology may not be reducible, but that doesn't make it false [Kirk,R on Churchland,PM] |
| 4987 | Eliminative materialism says folk psychology will be replaced, not reduced [Churchland,PM] |
| 7518 | If folk psychology gives a network of causal laws, that fits neatly with functionalism [Churchland,PM] |
| 7520 | Folk psychology never makes any progress, and is marginalised by modern science [Churchland,PM] |
| 7519 | Many mental phenomena are totally unexplained by folk psychology [Churchland,PM] |