Single Idea 5347

[catalogued under 17. Mind and Body / B. Behaviourism / 4. Behaviourism Critique]

Full Idea

Behaviourism was notorious in its heyday for having nothing to say about mental causation.

Gist of Idea

Behaviourism notoriously has nothing to say about mental causation

Source

Owen Flanagan (The Problem of the Soul [2002], p.141)

Book Reference

Flanagan,Owen: 'The Problem of the Soul' [Basic Books 2003], p.141


A Reaction

This is a bit unfair, as Ryle (idea 2622, following Spinoza, 4862) was one of the first to point out the paradox of 'double causation'. You have to be a mentalist to worry about mental causation, and eliminativists aren't bothered.

Related Ideas

Idea 2622 Can one movement have a mental and physical cause? [Ryle]

Idea 4862 Can the pineal gland be moved more slowly or quickly by the mind than by animal spirits? [Spinoza on Descartes]