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Home/Social Studies/One attractive feature of functionalism is that it characterizes mental states as “multiply realizable.” Explain what this means and why this often is viewed as an advantage of functionalism insofar as it avoids the ‘chauvinism’ of the mind-brain identity theory. Then, consider Ned Block’s claim that this potentially saddles functionalism with a different problem: liberalism.

One attractive feature of functionalism is that it characterizes mental states as “multiply realizable.” Explain what this means and why this often is viewed as an advantage of functionalism insofar as it avoids the ‘chauvinism’ of the mind-brain identity theory. Then, consider Ned Block’s claim that this potentially saddles functionalism with a different problem: liberalism.

The characterization of mental states as multiple realizable is a notion used by functionalism to mean that the composition of a being does not determine how it interacts with the environment. Materials of different compositions can perform the same functions depending on their roles. Therefore, different types of beings will interact in the same manner with their environment irrespective of their composition. The notion of multiple realizable is often viewed as an advantage of functionalism in relation to the mind-brain theory because it is a common sense state of reasoning that has traction with the common man psychology, which is common knowledge to all.

On the other, Ned Block strongly believes that functionalism is guilty of being liberalistic on different fronts. He argues that functionalists believe that mental types are functional types and use multiple realizations to explain their theory. The central position held by functionalists is that anything that is functionally similar to human beings is, in effect, psychologically similar to them. It means, therefore, that such objects will have both mental and mind states. According to Ned, such a presupposition by functionalists is too liberalistic.

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Academic.Tips. (2023) 'One attractive feature of functionalism is that it characterizes mental states as "multiply realizable." Explain what this means and why this often is viewed as an advantage of functionalism insofar as it avoids the ‘chauvinism’ of the mind-brain identity theory. Then, consider Ned Block’s claim that this potentially saddles functionalism with a different problem: liberalism'. 12 February.

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Academic.Tips. (2023, February 12). One attractive feature of functionalism is that it characterizes mental states as "multiply realizable." Explain what this means and why this often is viewed as an advantage of functionalism insofar as it avoids the ‘chauvinism’ of the mind-brain identity theory. Then, consider Ned Block’s claim that this potentially saddles functionalism with a different problem: liberalism. https://academic.tips/question/one-attractive-feature-of-functionalism-is-that-it-characterizes-mental-states-as-multiply-realizable-explain-what-this-means-and-why-this-often-is-viewed-as-an-advantage-of-functionalism-insofar/

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Academic.Tips. 2023. "One attractive feature of functionalism is that it characterizes mental states as "multiply realizable." Explain what this means and why this often is viewed as an advantage of functionalism insofar as it avoids the ‘chauvinism’ of the mind-brain identity theory. Then, consider Ned Block’s claim that this potentially saddles functionalism with a different problem: liberalism." February 12, 2023. https://academic.tips/question/one-attractive-feature-of-functionalism-is-that-it-characterizes-mental-states-as-multiply-realizable-explain-what-this-means-and-why-this-often-is-viewed-as-an-advantage-of-functionalism-insofar/.

1. Academic.Tips. "One attractive feature of functionalism is that it characterizes mental states as "multiply realizable." Explain what this means and why this often is viewed as an advantage of functionalism insofar as it avoids the ‘chauvinism’ of the mind-brain identity theory. Then, consider Ned Block’s claim that this potentially saddles functionalism with a different problem: liberalism." February 12, 2023. https://academic.tips/question/one-attractive-feature-of-functionalism-is-that-it-characterizes-mental-states-as-multiply-realizable-explain-what-this-means-and-why-this-often-is-viewed-as-an-advantage-of-functionalism-insofar/.


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Academic.Tips. "One attractive feature of functionalism is that it characterizes mental states as "multiply realizable." Explain what this means and why this often is viewed as an advantage of functionalism insofar as it avoids the ‘chauvinism’ of the mind-brain identity theory. Then, consider Ned Block’s claim that this potentially saddles functionalism with a different problem: liberalism." February 12, 2023. https://academic.tips/question/one-attractive-feature-of-functionalism-is-that-it-characterizes-mental-states-as-multiply-realizable-explain-what-this-means-and-why-this-often-is-viewed-as-an-advantage-of-functionalism-insofar/.

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"One attractive feature of functionalism is that it characterizes mental states as "multiply realizable." Explain what this means and why this often is viewed as an advantage of functionalism insofar as it avoids the ‘chauvinism’ of the mind-brain identity theory. Then, consider Ned Block’s claim that this potentially saddles functionalism with a different problem: liberalism." Academic.Tips, 12 Feb. 2023, academic.tips/question/one-attractive-feature-of-functionalism-is-that-it-characterizes-mental-states-as-multiply-realizable-explain-what-this-means-and-why-this-often-is-viewed-as-an-advantage-of-functionalism-insofar/.

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Please carefully explain John Searle’s “Chinese Room” objection to Strong AI/the computational theory of mind and his key distinction between syntax and semantics. Why might critics think Searle is guilty of what Ned Block calls ‘chauvinism’?
According to Armstrong, what does it mean to provide a causal analysis of mental concepts and define mental states in terms of their causal role? How does this allow functionalists to distinguish between the mental state’s functional role and what occupies/fills/realizes this role? How does this make functionalist metaphysics different from the metaphysics of the identity theory?
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