Philosophy Functionalism Questions
The relationship between functionalism and physicalism is that functionalism is a theory of the mind that is compatible with physicalism. Functionalism holds that mental states are defined by their functional roles, or the causal relations they have with other mental states, sensory inputs, and behavioral outputs. It emphasizes the importance of the functional organization of the mind rather than its physical substrate. Physicalism, on the other hand, is the view that everything that exists is ultimately physical in nature. It asserts that mental states are ultimately reducible to physical states or processes. Functionalism can be seen as a form of physicalism because it does not deny the physical basis of mental states but rather focuses on their functional properties.