Functionalism is a theory developed as an alternative to both the Identity Theory of Mind and Behaviorism, stating that mental states are a function of their role within the mind. The Dualism theory is the belief that the mind is two states within the same body. Materialism is a monism: a theory that matter, the consciousness and mental phenomena, is identical in their material interactions. Functionalism and informational processing are related due to how both systems are dependent upon rational components or functions. Functionalism interprets the concept of a causal role in a way that a given mental state can be defined by its causal relations to other mental states. The idea behind functionalism is that it’s not a reductionist theory, …show more content…
The functionalist would not refute if the events in the mind turned out to be some of the only things that correlate with functional properties that define mental states. Since functionalism recognizes that the mental functions may be physical, it is within the same line of thought that mental causation is a form of physical causation. In other words, functionalism tolerates the materialist solution to the mind-body problem. It is possible for the functionalist to assert both that mental properties are typically defined in terms of their relations and that the interactions of mind and body are typically causal in however robust a notion of causality is required by psychological explanations. The logical behaviorist can endorse only the first assertion, while the type physicalist only endorses the second. As a result, functionalism seems to capture the best features of the materialist alternatives to dualism. It is no wonder that functionalism has become increasingly popular. “Machines provide good examples of two concepts that are central to functionalism: the concept …show more content…
According to Searle's original presentation, the argument is based on two key foundational basis: the mind is the causation of the brain and syntax doesn't suffice for semantics. One of his points for supporting this theory is strong AI; the computer is not merely a tool for the study of the mind, but rather it is a mind given that the right programs can be literally said to understand and have other cognitive states. Searle contrasts strong AI with "weak AI." According to weak AI, computers just simulate thought, unable to understand that what they’re accomplishing isn't real understanding, just calculating only as-if