Philosophy Of Mind Questions Long
Behaviorism and functionalism are two distinct theories within the field of philosophy of mind that attempt to explain the relationship between the mind and behavior. While both theories focus on the study of mental states and processes, they differ in their approach and underlying assumptions.
Behaviorism, developed by psychologists such as John B. Watson and B.F. Skinner, asserts that the mind is not a separate entity from behavior but rather a product of it. According to behaviorism, mental states and processes are not directly observable and therefore should not be the focus of scientific inquiry. Instead, behaviorists argue that behavior can be explained and predicted by studying observable stimuli and responses. They emphasize the importance of conditioning and reinforcement in shaping behavior, suggesting that all mental states can be reduced to observable behaviors.
On the other hand, functionalism, developed by philosophers such as Hilary Putnam and Jerry Fodor, takes a different approach. Functionalism argues that mental states and processes should be studied in terms of their functional role or purpose, rather than their physical or behavioral manifestations. According to functionalism, mental states are not solely determined by behavior, but rather by the causal relations they have with other mental states, sensory inputs, and behavioral outputs. Functionalists believe that mental states can be realized by different physical or biological systems, as long as they perform the same functional role.
In summary, the main difference between behaviorism and functionalism lies in their approach to understanding the mind. Behaviorism focuses on observable behavior and rejects the study of mental states, while functionalism emphasizes the functional role of mental states and their relations to behavior. Behaviorism reduces mental states to behavior, whereas functionalism allows for multiple physical realizations of mental states as long as they serve the same functional purpose.