back to ideas for this text


Single Idea 3379

[from 'Philosophy of Mind' by Jaegwon Kim, in 17. Mind and Body / C. Functionalism / 1. Functionalism ]

Full Idea

Most neurons, it has been said, are pretty much alike and largely interchangeable.

Gist of Idea

Neurons seem to be very similar and interchangeable

Source

Jaegwon Kim (Philosophy of Mind [1996], p. 76)

Book Reference

Kim,Jaegwon: 'Philosophy of Mind' [Westview 1998], p.76


A Reaction

This fact, if true, is highly significant, because the correct theory of the mind must therefore be some sort of functionalism. If what a neuron is is insignificant, then what it does must be what matters.