more from Jerry A. Fodor

Single Idea 2994

[catalogued under 15. Nature of Minds / A. Nature of Mind / 1. Mind / e. Questions about mind]

Full Idea

In the Representation Theory of Mind, programs (the 'laws of thought') may be explicitly represented, but data structures (the 'contents of thought') have to be.

Gist of Idea

In CRTT thought may be represented, content must be

Source

Jerry A. Fodor (Psychosemantics [1987], p. 25)

Book Reference

Fodor,Jerry A.: 'Psychosemantics' [MIT 1993], p.25


A Reaction

Presumably this is because content is where mental events actually meet up with the reality being considered. It may be an abstract procedure, but if it doesn't plug into reality then it isn't thought, but merely activity, like that of the liver.