In This Selection Churchland Examines Functionalism and the Two Prominent

question 6

True/False

In this selection Churchland examines functionalism and the two prominent versions of materialism in philosophy of mind. Reductivism claims that there is an identity of mental states with brain states. Functionalism rejects any one-to-one correlation between mental types and physical types and concentrates on the relationship between inputs and outputs. For example, the mental event of pain could be similar in two beings that have altogether different types of bodies and brains. Most functionalists are materialists, but someone could be a functionalist and be a nonmaterialist. Eliminative materialism is more radical than either of these other theories and seeks to eliminate "folk psychology"-talk of beliefs, feelings, and perceptions-in favor of more scientific descriptions of what is going on in the brain. Churchland concludes that the truth may be a combination of the two materialist theories, although the evidence points more in the direction of eliminativism.
-Nagel is skeptical of reductionism.

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Definitions:

Categorical Imperative

The Categorical Imperative is a foundational concept in moral philosophy introduced by Immanuel Kant, which suggests that one should act only according to that maxim through which you can at the same time will that it becomes a universal law.

Collectivists

Individuals or cultures that prioritize the goals and well-being of the group over those of the individual.

Individualists

Persons who prioritize personal goals and independence over collective goals and interdependence.

Social Norms

Implicit or explicit rules a group holds that influence how its members behave in a typical situation.