Eliminative materialism

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Eliminative Materialism is a philosophical position in the mind-body problem within philosophy of mind. It argues that common-sense psychological concepts like belief, desire, and emotion do not have a coherent basis in the physical laws that govern the universe and thus cannot be reliably mapped onto brain structures or functions. Proponents of eliminative materialism suggest that as our understanding of neuroscience advances, these folk psychological concepts will be eliminated in favor of more accurate descriptions that arise from the neuroscientific perspective.

Overview

Eliminative materialism posits that many or all of the mental states and properties that people believe in do not actually exist. It challenges the traditional dualistic view that the mind and body are fundamentally different in substance and suggests instead that everything about the mind can and should be understood in terms of its physical basis.

Historical Background

The roots of eliminative materialism can be traced back to the philosophy of science and logical positivism movements, which emphasized a stringent empirical approach to philosophical questions. Philosophers such as Paul Feyerabend and Richard Rorty in the 20th century further developed the theory, arguing against the feasibility of a scientific psychology that includes folk psychological terms.

Arguments for Eliminative Materialism

Proponents argue that folk psychology has been stagnant in its development and has failed to produce testable hypotheses or to integrate with the burgeoning field of neuroscience. They also point to the history of science, noting how theories and entities (such as phlogiston in chemistry or the ether in physics) have been eliminated when they ceased to be useful for explaining phenomena.

Criticism

Eliminative materialism has faced criticism from both philosophers and cognitive scientists. Critics argue that folk psychological concepts are deeply embedded in human language and culture, making them indispensable for understanding human behavior. Others suggest that eliminative materialism underestimates the complexity of the brain and the potential for folk psychology and neuroscience to co-evolve.

Implications

The implications of eliminative materialism are profound, affecting fields such as psychology, neuroscience, artificial intelligence, and ethics. If true, it could lead to a radical rethinking of issues ranging from the nature of personal identity to the basis of moral responsibility.

See Also

• Philosophy of mind
• Materialism
• Dualism
• Functionalism
• Cognitive science