Philosophy 4610 Philosophy of Mind Week 7: Eliminative Materialism and Review

Churchland and Eliminative Materialism Like other philosophers we’ve read, Churchland is a physicalist or “materialist.” Like other philosophers we’ve read, Churchland is a physicalist or “materialist.” But his version of materialism is even stronger than most. According to Churchland’s eliminative materialism, increased scientific knowledge about the brain can lead us to abandon everything we think we know about psychology – even the everyday language in which we usually describe mental states and experiences. But his version of materialism is even stronger than most. According to Churchland’s eliminative materialism, increased scientific knowledge about the brain can lead us to abandon everything we think we know about psychology – even the everyday language in which we usually describe mental states and experiences.

“Folk Psychology” According to Churchland, the way we talk about each other’s mental states on an everyday basis involves a certain “theory” of psychology, what he calls “folk psychology.” According to Churchland, the way we talk about each other’s mental states on an everyday basis involves a certain “theory” of psychology, what he calls “folk psychology.” This theory uses terms like: “belief”; “desire”; “fear”; “perception”; and “toothache.” This theory uses terms like: “belief”; “desire”; “fear”; “perception”; and “toothache.” But just because we hold a theory on an everyday basis, doesn’t mean that it is a true theory But just because we hold a theory on an everyday basis, doesn’t mean that it is a true theory

Folk psychology and elimination In the past history of science, widely held theories have often been shown to be false. When they were shown to be false, we had to abandon not only what they said but even the terms that they use. In the past history of science, widely held theories have often been shown to be false. When they were shown to be false, we had to abandon not only what they said but even the terms that they use. Example: Alchemy characterized substances using terms like “mercury”; “sulphur”; “yellow arsenic” and “sal ammoniac.” But when we discovered chemistry, we abandoned even these terms of description. Example: Alchemy characterized substances using terms like “mercury”; “sulphur”; “yellow arsenic” and “sal ammoniac.” But when we discovered chemistry, we abandoned even these terms of description.

Folk psychology and elimination “Eliminative materialism is the thesis that our common-sense conception of psychological phenomena constitutes a radically false theory, a theory so fundamentally defective that both the principles and the ontology of that theory will eventually be displaced, rather than smoothly reduced, by completed neuroscience.” (p. 568). “Eliminative materialism is the thesis that our common-sense conception of psychological phenomena constitutes a radically false theory, a theory so fundamentally defective that both the principles and the ontology of that theory will eventually be displaced, rather than smoothly reduced, by completed neuroscience.” (p. 568). Thus, instead of saying, e.g., “I am in pain,” we might say, “My temporal lobe-neurons are firing at 75 hz.” Thus, instead of saying, e.g., “I am in pain,” we might say, “My temporal lobe-neurons are firing at 75 hz.”