Single Idea 2490

[catalogued under 17. Mind and Body / E. Mind as Physical / 4. Connectionism]

Full Idea

Churchland is pushing a version of connectionism ….in which if you think of the elements as "ideas" and call the connections between them "associations", you've got a psychology that is no great advance on David Hume.

Gist of Idea

Modern connectionism is just Hume's theory of the 'association' of 'ideas'

Source

Jerry A. Fodor (In a Critical Condition [2000], Ch. 8)

Book Reference

Fodor,Jerry A.: 'In Critical Condition' [MIT 2000], p.85


A Reaction

See Fodor's book 'Humean Variations' on how Hume should be improved. This idea strikes me as important for understanding Hume, who is very reticent about what his real views are on the mind.