Single Idea 21799

[catalogued under 15. Nature of Minds / C. Capacities of Minds / 1. Faculties]

Full Idea

So long as we are ignorant of the true essence of the cause which is operating, we call it a 'faculty'.

Gist of Idea

We just use the word 'faculty' when we don't know the psychological cause

Source

Galen (On the Natural Faculties [c.170], I.iv), quoted by Dominik Perler - Intro to The Faculties: a History 2

Book Reference

'The Faculties: a history', ed/tr. Perler,Dominic [OUP 2015], p.9


A Reaction

This is probably the view of most modern neuroscientists. I want to defend the idea that we need the concept of a faculty in philosophy, even if the psychologists and neuroscientists say it is too vague for their purposes.