Full Idea
'Analytical functionalists', who hold that meanings of mental terms are determined by the causal roles associated with them by 'folk psychology', deny themselves appeals to lower levels of functional organisation.
Gist of Idea
If functionalism focuses on folk psychology, it ignores lower levels of function
Source
William Lycan (Consciousness [1987], 5.4)
Book Reference
Lycan,William G.: 'Consciousness' [MIT 1995], p.60
A Reaction
Presumably folk psychology can fit into the kind of empirical methodology favoured by behaviourists, whereas 'lower levels' are going to become rather speculative and unscientific.