Functionalism

Fourth lecture for a course on philosophy of mind.

Transcript

1. Functionalism Mind as Machine George Matthews CC 2017
2. What are minds?
3. What are minds?
4. What are minds? ! Minds depend on bodies.
5. What are minds? ! Minds depend on bodies. Information gets to mind from physical senses.
6. What are minds? ! Minds depend on bodies. Information gets to mind from physical senses. Damaged brains mean damaged minds.
7. What are minds? ! Minds depend on bodies. Information gets to mind from physical senses. Damaged brains mean damaged minds. ! Minds are independent of bodies.
8. What are minds? ! Minds depend on bodies. Information gets to mind from physical senses. Damaged brains mean damaged minds. ! Minds are independent of bodies. Different minds and brains can have the same thoughts.
9. What are minds? ! Minds depend on bodies. Information gets to mind from physical senses. Damaged brains mean damaged minds. ! Minds are independent of bodies. Different minds and brains can have the same thoughts. Brains and behavior alone do not reveal the contents of minds.
10. An Analogy
11. An Analogy
12. An Analogy ! Computer software depends on hardware.
13. An Analogy ! Computer software depends on hardware. Information gets to software by means of physical circuits.
14. An Analogy ! Computer software depends on hardware. Information gets to software by means of physical circuits. Damaged hardware means software doesn’t work.
15. An Analogy ! Computer software depends on hardware. Information gets to software by means of physical circuits. Damaged hardware means software doesn’t work. ! Software is independent of hardware.
16. An Analogy ! Computer software depends on hardware. Information gets to software by means of physical circuits. Damaged hardware means software doesn’t work. ! Software is independent of hardware. Different machines can run the same programs.
17. An Analogy ! Computer software depends on hardware. Information gets to software by means of physical circuits. Damaged hardware means software doesn’t work. ! Software is independent of hardware. Different machines can run the same programs. Patterns of activity in circuits alone do not reveal the functions carried out by programs.
18. Functionalism
19. Functionalism
20. Functionalism ! Minds are not things, but sets of capacities (behaviorism is partly right).
21. Functionalism ! Minds are not things, but sets of capacities (behaviorism is partly right). ! Minds do not exist without some physical device to carry out mental functions (Mind/Brain Identity theory is partly right).
22. Functionalism ! Minds are not things, but sets of capacities (behaviorism is partly right). ! Minds do not exist without some physical device to carry out mental functions (Mind/Brain Identity theory is partly right). ! Minds are not identical with either behavior or any physical thing (dualism is partly right).
23. Functionalism ! Minds are not things, but sets of capacities (behaviorism is partly right). ! Minds do not exist without some physical device to carry out mental functions (Mind/Brain Identity theory is partly right). ! Minds are not identical with either behavior or any physical thing (dualism is partly right). ! Minds are sets of functions running in brains (all the other theories are partly wrong).
24. Multiple Realizability
25. Multiple Realizability
26. Multiple Realizability ! A machine is defined by its function.
27. Multiple Realizability ! A machine is defined by its function. ! The same function can be carried out by other machines.
28. Multiple Realizability ! A machine is defined by its function. ! The same function can be carried out by other machines. ! If the mind is a set of functions, a machine besides the brain can be designed that implements the functions carried out by minds.
29. Compare and Contrast a thermostat a person
30. Compare and Contrast a thermostat ! Coil unwinds past a set point. a person
31. Compare and Contrast a thermostat ! Coil unwinds past a set point. ! This triggers a switch that turns off furnace. a person
32. Compare and Contrast a thermostat ! Coil unwinds past a set point. ! This triggers a switch that turns off furnace. ! Coil winds tighter past a set point. a person
33. Compare and Contrast a thermostat ! Coil unwinds past a set point. ! This triggers a switch that turns off furnace. ! Coil winds tighter past a set point. ! This triggers a switch that turns on furnace. a person
34. Compare and Contrast a thermostat ! Coil unwinds past a set point. ! This triggers a switch that turns off furnace. ! Coil winds tighter past a set point. ! This triggers a switch that turns on furnace. a person ! Turing notices the room is too hot.
35. Compare and Contrast a thermostat ! Coil unwinds past a set point. ! This triggers a switch that turns off furnace. ! Coil winds tighter past a set point. ! This triggers a switch that turns on furnace. a person ! Turing notices the room is too hot. ! He turns off the furnace.
36. Compare and Contrast a thermostat ! Coil unwinds past a set point. ! This triggers a switch that turns off furnace. ! Coil winds tighter past a set point. ! This triggers a switch that turns on furnace. a person ! Turing notices the room is too hot. ! He turns off the furnace. ! Turing notices the room is cold.
37. Compare and Contrast a thermostat ! Coil unwinds past a set point. ! This triggers a switch that turns off furnace. ! Coil winds tighter past a set point. ! This triggers a switch that turns on furnace. a person ! Turing notices the room is too hot. ! He turns off the furnace. ! Turing notices the room is cold. ! He turns on the furnace.
38. Finite State Machines
39. Finite State Machines
40. Finite State Machines ! A set of possible inputs.
41. Finite State Machines ! A set of possible inputs. ! A set of internal states.
42. Finite State Machines ! A set of possible inputs. ! A set of internal states. ! A set of possible outputs.
43. Finite State Machines ! A set of possible inputs. ! A set of internal states. ! A set of possible outputs. ! A set of rules that relate inputs, internal states and outputs.
44. Finite State Machines ! A set of possible inputs. ! A set of internal states. ! A set of possible outputs. ! A set of rules that relate inputs, internal states and outputs. Are minds nothing but very complex finite state machines?
45. Mind as Machine
46. Mind as Machine
47. Mind as Machine ! inputs: millions of sensory receptors
48. Mind as Machine ! inputs: millions of sensory receptors ! internal states: memories, brain states, chemical and hormonal states
49. Mind as Machine ! inputs: millions of sensory receptors ! internal states: memories, brain states, chemical and hormonal states ! rules: instincts, reflexes, habits, thoughts, plans, ideas, emotions, learned routines
50. Mind as Machine ! inputs: millions of sensory receptors ! internal states: memories, brain states, chemical and hormonal states ! rules: instincts, reflexes, habits, thoughts, plans, ideas, emotions, learned routines ! outputs: new internal states, motor outputs, spoken and written language