Single Idea 2486

[catalogued under 18. Thought / C. Content / 9. Conceptual Role Semantics]

Full Idea

Functional role semantics wants to analyze the content of a belief in terms of its inferential (causal) relations; but that seems the wrong way round. The content of a belief determines its causal role.

Gist of Idea

Content can't be causal role, because causal role is decided by content

Source

Jerry A. Fodor (In a Critical Condition [2000], Ch. 6)

Book Reference

Fodor,Jerry A.: 'In Critical Condition' [MIT 2000], p.70


A Reaction

This is one of my favourite ideas, which keeps coming to mind when considering functional accounts of mental life. The buck of explanation must, however, stop somewhere.