Is Role-Functionalism Committed to Epiphenomenalism?

In this: publication
By this: publisher
In this Subject: Psychology ,&nbsp; Political Science
By this author: McLaughlin, Brian P.

Author: McLaughlin, Brian P.

Source: Journal of Consciousness Studies, Volume 13, Numbers 1-2, 2006 , pp. 39-66(28)

Buy & download fulltext article:

Price: $28.46 plus tax (Refund Policy)

Abstract:

Role-functionalism for mental events attempts to avoid epiphenomenalism without psychophysical identities. The paper addresses the question of whether it can succeed. It is argued that there is considerable reason to believe it cannot avoid epiphenomenalism, and that if it cannot, then it is untenable. It is pointed out, however, that even if role- functionalism is indeed an untenable theory of mental events, a role-functionalism account of mental dispositions has some intuitive plausibility.

Document Type: Research article

Publication date: 2006-01-01