Functionalist maintains that pain is anything that plays the pain-role in a complex causal system that captures our widely shared, common-sense beliefs about
A) pain.
B) pain and other mental states.
C) pain, other mental states, and environmental stimuli.
D) pain, other mental states, environmental stimuli, and behavior.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Functionalist theories argue that mental states, including pain, are defined by their roles in a causal system that involves not just the sensation itself but also its interaction with other mental states, environmental stimuli, and resultant behaviors. This view holds that what makes something a pain is its function in this complex system, including how it is caused and how it leads to certain behaviors.

Functionalist Maintains That Pain Is Anything That Plays the Pain-Role