Single Idea 3388

[catalogued under 17. Mind and Body / C. Functionalism / 1. Functionalism]

Full Idea

Machine functionalism requires a mental state to be a physical realisation of a Turing machine; causal-theoretical functionalism only requires that there be appropriate "internal states".

Gist of Idea

Machine functionalism requires a Turing machine, causal-theoretical version doesn't

Source

Jaegwon Kim (Philosophy of Mind [1996], p.112)

Book Reference

Kim,Jaegwon: 'Philosophy of Mind' [Westview 1998], p.112


A Reaction

Searle's objection to the Turing machine version seems good - that such a machine has an implicit notion of a user/interpreter, which is absent from this theory of mind.