more from Robert Kirk

Single Idea 4992

[catalogued under 17. Mind and Body / B. Behaviourism / 2. Potential Behaviour]

Full Idea

There is a non-reductive version of behaviourism ( which we can call 'global' or 'holistic') which says there is no more to having mental states than having a complex of certain kinds of behavioural dispositions.

Gist of Idea

In 'holistic' behaviourism we say a mental state is a complex of many dispositions

Source

Robert Kirk (Mind and Body [2003], §5.2)

Book Reference

Kirk,Robert: 'Mind and Body' [Acumen 2003], p.103


A Reaction

This is designed to meet a standard objection to behaviourism - that there is no straight correlation between what I think and how I behave. The present theory is obviously untestable, because a full 'complex' of human dispositions is never repeated.