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Single Idea 2463

[from 'The Elm and the Expert' by Jerry A. Fodor, in 2. Reason / A. Nature of Reason / 8. Naturalising Reason ]

Full Idea

There seems to be an emerging naturalist consensus that is Realist in ontology and epistemology, externalist in semantics, and computationalist in cognitive psychology, which nicely allows us to retain our understanding of ourselves as rational creatures.

Clarification

'Naturalist' - scientific; 'realist' - things exist outside the mind; 'externalist' - meanings aren't private; 'computationalist' - the brain thinks with physical processes

Gist of Idea

A standard naturalist view is realist, externalist, and computationalist, and believes in rationality

Source

Jerry A. Fodor (The Elm and the Expert [1993], §4)

Book Reference

Fodor,Jerry A.: 'The Elm and the Expert' [MIT 1995], p.102