The position that claims that the terms "beliefs," "thoughts," and "desires" refer to nothing at all is called
A) identity theory.
B) eliminativism.
C) dualism.
D) idealism.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The position that claims that the terms "beliefs," "thoughts," and "desires" refer to nothing at all is called eliminativism. Eliminativists argue that these mental states are merely illusions and do not actually exist, and therefore should be eliminated from our language and understanding of the mind. The other options do not correspond to this description. Identity theory, for instance, claims that mental states are identical to brain states, whereas dualism maintains that mental states and physical states are different but interrelated. Idealism, on the other hand, asserts that reality is fundamentally mental or spiritual rather than physical.

The Position That Claims That the Terms "Beliefs," "Thoughts," and "Desires