Single Idea 2467

[catalogued under 17. Mind and Body / C. Functionalism / 1. Functionalism]

Full Idea

Functionalists claim that pains and the like are higher-order, relational properties that things have in virtue of the pattern of causal interactions that they (can or do) enter into.

Gist of Idea

Functionalists see pains as properties involving relations and causation

Source

Jerry A. Fodor (In a Critical Condition [2000], Ch. 2)

Book Reference

Fodor,Jerry A.: 'In Critical Condition' [MIT 2000], p.13


A Reaction

The whole idea of a property being purely 'relational' strikes me as dubious (or even nonsense). "Is north of" is a relation, but it is totally derived from more basical physical geographical properties.