How does functionalism explain mental states in non-human organisms?

Philosophy Functionalism Questions



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How does functionalism explain mental states in non-human organisms?

Functionalism explains mental states in non-human organisms by focusing on the functional role or purpose of those mental states rather than their specific physical or biological properties. According to functionalism, mental states are defined by their causal relations to inputs (stimuli) and outputs (behavior) in an organism's environment. In the case of non-human organisms, functionalism suggests that mental states can be attributed to them if they exhibit similar patterns of input-output relations as humans do. This means that if a non-human organism responds to certain stimuli in a way that is functionally equivalent to how humans would respond, then it can be said to possess similar mental states. Functionalism thus emphasizes the importance of the role mental states play in an organism's overall cognitive system, rather than their specific physical or biological nature.