Summary PHILOSOPHICAL PROBLEMS

ELIMINATIVE MATERIALISM –
PHYSICALISM
“Some/ all common sense (folk
psychology) mental states /properties do
not exist and our common-sense
understanding is radically mistaken.”

, Notes:




It is an eliminative theory not a reductive one

It states that some or all mental states do not exist
- One way we think and talk about mind is flawed, mental concepts mistakes =
should abandon all talk of the mental
 Instead stick with brain processes
- Not reductionist
 It is a form of elimination
 Says there are no mental properties – nothing exists that correspond
to mental terms e.g belief/ desire

Folk psychology = common sense laws to explain mental states
- Concept of mental states and mental concepts do not correspond to anything
that exists
- Folk psychology = empirical theory about human behaviour

We have common sense theory = why people express the behaviour they do
- E.g someone is thirsty = will look for water
- Through these claims we can understand, explain and predict behaviour of
others
 This can be done through referring to people’s beliefs/ desires,
emotions and so on
- This approach = FOLK PSYCHOLOGY

Churchland argues folk psychology is an empirical theory so may turn out to be false with
the central concepts of mental states could turn to be completely wrong
- EM = Eliminate all talk of mental concepts

Why should we eliminate any talk of mental concepts?
1. Many aspects which folk psychology cannot explain e.g. mental illness, sleep,
perception. Explanations of these phenomena require concepts that folk psychology
lacks.