Single Idea 3003

[catalogued under 19. Language / A. Nature of Meaning / 7. Meaning Holism / c. Meaning by Role]

Full Idea

It's an embarrassment for attempts to construct content from functional role that quite different sorts of mental states can nevertheless share their contents.

Gist of Idea

Very different mental states can share their contents, so content doesn't seem to be constructed from functional role

Source

Jerry A. Fodor (Psychosemantics [1987], p. 70)

Book Reference

Fodor,Jerry A.: 'Psychosemantics' [MIT 1993], p.70


A Reaction

That is, presumably, one content having two different roles. Two contents with the same role is 'multiple realisability'. Pain can tell me I'm damaged, or reveal that my damaged nerves are healing. Problem?