PHLB81H3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Hilary Putnam, Type Physicalism, Behaviorism
Document Summary
Hilary putnam the nature of mental states. According to functionalism: a mental state. Depends on the role it plays in the system of which it is a part. Caused by things that happen in the brain and body. Are(cid:374)(cid:859)t identical with things that happen in the brain. Pain the thing that is caused by injury makes us think something is wrong, makes us want to get away from it. There is some relationship but it is not specifically dependent on brain. What does it mean to be in pain: putnam says there are bad ways to answer this question. (cid:862)ha(cid:448)i(cid:374)g a(cid:374) u(cid:374)pleasa(cid:374)t se(cid:374)satio(cid:374)(cid:863: this is uninformative. (cid:862)bei(cid:374)g i(cid:374) pai(cid:374) is (cid:271)ei(cid:374)g i(cid:374) a (cid:272)ertai(cid:374) (cid:271)rai(cid:374) state(cid:863) Identity theory: let(cid:859)s e(cid:454)a(cid:373)i(cid:374)e the state(cid:373)e(cid:374)t: (cid:862)i (cid:272)a(cid:374) k(cid:374)o(cid:449) i(cid:859)(cid:373) i(cid:374) pai(cid:374), (cid:271)ut i do(cid:374)(cid:859)t k(cid:374)o(cid:449) a(cid:374)(cid:455)thi(cid:374)g about the brain. So pain cannot be a brain state. (cid:863) The concept of pain is not the same thing as the concept of a brain state.
