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Single Idea 3976

[from 'Jerry A. Fodor on himself' by Jerry A. Fodor, in 15. Nature of Minds / B. Features of Minds / 4. Intentionality / b. Intentionality theories ]

Full Idea

If there is to be an intentional science, there must be semantically evaluable things which have causal powers, and there must be laws relating beliefs and desires to one another, and to actions.

Clarification

'Intentional science' is explanation of behaviour using what the agent is thinking

Gist of Idea

Intentional science needs objects with semantic and causal properties, and which obey laws

Source

Jerry A. Fodor (Jerry A. Fodor on himself [1994], p.293)

Book Reference

'A Companion to the Philosophy of Mind', ed/tr. Guttenplan,Samuel [Blackwell 1995], p.293


A Reaction

The semantics and causation sound fair enough, but the prospect of finding laws looks bleak (though, contrary to Davidson, I don't see why they can't exist).