Question 1

An implication of functionalism is that if a computer processing of inputs and outputs is functionally equivalent to our mental activity, then computers have mental states

Accepted Answer

Functionalism posits that mental states are constituted by their functional role - that is, by their causal relations to sensory inputs, behavioral outputs, and other mental states. Therefore, if a computer's processing of inputs and outputs is functionally equivalent to human mental activity, under functionalism, it implies that computers could indeed have mental states.

Question 2

The functionalist would claim that if a Martian's brain was made up ofdifferent material than ours, it could not have our mental states.

Accepted Answer

Functionalism argues that mental states are defined by their function or role in cognitive processes, not by the material composition of the entity experiencing them. Therefore, a Martian with a differently composed brain could have mental states similar to humans if those states performed equivalent functions.

Question 3

Functionalism is a form of dualism in that it claims that the mind is animmaterial substance separate from the body.

Accepted Answer

Functionalism is a theory that considers mental states in terms of their function or role in cognitive processes, rather than as an immaterial substance; it is thus a form of materialism, not dualism.

Question 4

The functionalist identifies the mind more with form than with matter.

Accepted Answer

Functionalism in philosophy of mind argues that mental states are constituted by their functional role, not by their physical composition. This means that what matters for mental states is how they function or the role they play in the system, rather than the specific physical material they are made of.

Question 5

According to the inverted-spectrum argument, a person could have red sensations when viewing a green apple and vice-versa, but his mental activity would befunctionally identical to a normal person

Accepted Answer

The inverted-spectrum argument suggests that it is possible for two people to have functionally identical mental activities (e.g., all the same responses to colors) even if the subjective experience of colors is inverted between them (what one person experiences as red, the other experiences as green, and vice versa). This thought experiment is used to argue that mental states can have qualitative, subjective aspects (qualia) that are not captured by functional or behavioral accounts of mind.

Question 6

The inverted-spectrum argument is used to support functionalism.

Accepted Answer

The inverted-spectrum argument is typically used to challenge functionalism by suggesting that two people could have functionally identical mental states yet experience qualitatively different subjective experiences, which functionalism struggles to account for.

Question 7

The Chinese Room thought experiment is used to criticize functionalism.

Accepted Answer

The Chinese Room thought experiment, proposed by philosopher John Searle, is used to argue against the idea that computers can possess understanding or consciousness, thereby criticizing functionalism, which is the view that mental states are constituted solely by their functional role.

Question 8

By &#34;multiple realizability&#34;the functionalist means&#10;A) mental events could be realized in many different forms and structures.&#10;B) there are multiple theories of mind and all of them are equally plausible.&#10;C) there are multiple mental events, but they are reducible to a small number of categories of brain events.&#10;D) every person is unique, so there cannot be a science of the mind.

Accepted Answer

Multiple realizability, as understood by functionalists, suggests that mental states can be instantiated in different physical systems, not just the human brain, but potentially in artificial intelligence or alien life forms, as long as the function of those states is preserved.

Question 9

The functionalist differs from the metaphysical behaviorist by claiming that&#10;A) the mind is a substance separate from the body.&#10;B) mental states play a role in explaining our behavior.&#10;C) input-output relations have nothing to do with the mind.&#10;D) all of the above

Accepted Answer

Functionalists argue that mental states are identified by their role in the causal network, including their relations to sensory inputs, behavioral outputs, and other mental states, thus emphasizing their importance in explaining behavior.

Question 10

The functionalist differs from the reductive materialist by claiming that&#10;A) mental states are defined by their functional role.&#10;B) the type of brains we have are not the only way to realize mental states.&#10;C) two people could function identically, even though their behavior was produced by different sorts of brain mechanisms.&#10;D) all of the above

Accepted Answer

Functionalists argue that mental states are defined by their causal roles and can be realized in multiple ways, not limited to human brain structures. This encompasses all the options provided, distinguishing functionalism from reductive materialism, which typically identifies mental states with specific brain states.

Question 11

The inverted spectrum argument makes the point that&#10;A) there are some colors humans cannot see.&#10;B) an after image is the complementary color of the original stimulus.&#10;C) two people could have functionally equivalent types of mental events, but their qualitative experiences could be different.&#10;D) the same color will evoke different psychological associations in different people.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The inverted spectrum argument makes the point...

Question 12

John Searle's &#34;Chinese Room Objection&#34;draws the conclusion that&#10;A) our language affects how we perceive the world.&#10;B) people's brain states change when they speak different languages.&#10;C) there are no grounds to suppose that artificial intelligence programs can understand or perform mental acts.&#10;D) by definition, if a person can duplicate the input and output of a Chinese speaker, then that person understands Chinese.

Accepted Answer

The answer of John Searle's &#34;Chinese Room Objection&#34;draws the conclusion...

Question 13

A key feature of the Chinese Room thought experiment is that&#10;A) the person inside the room understands no Chinese.&#10;B) follows rules on how to manipulate the symbols.&#10;C) successfully imitates a native Chinese speaker.&#10;D) all of the above

Accepted Answer

The answer of A key feature of the Chinese Room...

Question 14

How does functionalism differ from metaphysical behaviorism? How might a functionalist argue that these differences make his or her theory superior?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How does functionalism differ from metaphysical behaviorism?...

Question 15

How does functionalism differ from reductive materialism? How might a functionalist argue that these differences make his or her theory superior?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How does functionalism differ from reductive materialism?...

Question 16

What is the inverted-spectrum argument? What relevance does it have to the assessment of functionalism?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the inverted-spectrum argument? What relevance...

Question 17

What is Searle's Chinese Room thought experiment? What role does it play in the assessment of functionalism?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is Searle's Chinese Room thought experiment?...

Question 18

How does functionalism provide theoretical support for the claims of many artificial intelligence researchers that computers can think?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How does functionalism provide theoretical support for...

Deck 16: Functionalism