Philosophy Question for Students
Philosophy Question: 1. Fodor discusses the example of the two coke-machines to illustrate the difference between functionalist and behaviorist theories.
a. Philosophy question: Why is coke machine B not legitimately behaviorist?
The answer to this philosophy question is that the reason for this is because it does not clearly display the relationship which exists between stimuli and responses without postulating mental causes.
b. Why can the functionalist vending machine (machine B) accept nickels as well as dimes, and give change, unlike the behaviorist machine (A)?
This is due to the fact that it does not bore the precise relationship between inputs, outputs or as far as the inter-defining of states is concerned
c. Inflation has occurred. A vending machine manufacturer has asked you to design a new vending machine that charges $0.25 for a coke, and accepts nickels, dimes, and quarters. This machine need not give change, but excess money must contribute to the next purchase (e.g. If I put in $0.35, I will get a coke and the machine will still have $0.10 towards the next purchase).
Following Fodor’s examples, please draw the machine table for this machine. That is, draw a table, with inputs listed in the left-most column, and states of the machine in the top row, and specify in each box what happens when the machine in this state receives an input of this sort. This specification will include any output the machine makes and the state that the machine will now move into.
| INPUTS | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| STATES | |||
| S1 | If and if only given nothing | Dispenses nothing | Proceeds to S2 |
| S2 | If and if only given a dime | Dispenses a coke | Stays in state S1 |
| S3 | If and if only given a nickel | Dispenses a coke | Remains in S1 |
| S1 $ S2 | If and if only given a dime | Dispenses a coke | Proceeds to S3 |
| S5 | If and if only given a dime and nickel | Dispenses a coke and nickel | Waits to be given the second nickel once given the first one |
Philosophy Question: 2. Searle quotes John McCarthy as saying that his thermostat has 3 beliefs: ‘it’s too hot in here’, ‘it’s too cold in here; and ‘it’s just right in here’. Remember that for a functionalist (like McCarthy) having a belief is just being in a particular functional state.
a. Please draw the machine table for McCarthy’s thermostat, imagining that McCarthy has set his thermostat to 75degrees. It will have 3 states (one for each belief), and its behavior will include: turn on AC, turn off AC, turn on heater, and turn off heater.
| Turn on AC | Turn off AC | Turn on heater | Turn off heater |
| Turns on the heater in return | Temperature attained | Turning on of the AC | Turning off of the AC |
| Water start to gain heat | Water stops boiling | Water start to gain heat | Boiling stops |
| Water boils | Temperature starts dropping | Water boils | Temperature drops |
| Controlled temperature is attained | Water maintains its initial temperature | temperature is attained | Original water temperature is restored |
b. Describe and explain one of Fodor’s reasons.
The answer to this philosophy question modularity of the mind_ Fodor describes this as the notion in which the mind could, at least in part, consist of inherent neural modules or simply structures that has distinctive established functions which are evolutionally developed.
Philosophy Question: 3. Clark and Chalmers discuss the example of Otto and Inga. Inga has a ‘normal’ memory, while Otto’s ‘internal’ memory has largely been replaced by his notebook. Clark and Chalmers claim is that Otto’s notebook plays the same functional role as Inga’s memory, and so should equally be thought of as part of his mind.
a. Come up with an example, other than memory, in which it appears that an external object can play the role of some aspect of one’s mental life.
The use of the walking stick for blind people
Clark and Chalmers discuss various differences between the internal aspects (e.g. Inga’s memory) and external aspects (e.g. Otto’s notebook) of cognition
a. Come up with a novel difference between internal and external aspects of mind, and suggest how this difference might put pressure on the external mind hypothesis.
The answer to this philosophy question is that conversely, what this entails is that such cases are relevantly different in the sense that it displays more reliable access to information for one situation as compared to the other. Writers who offer philosophy assignment help at Edudorm essay writing service notes that although the external stimuli might be depended on, the fact is that it will not be implausible that such a consistency will remain to be relevant in justifying the cognitive status of the external mind hypothesis.
b.. Suggest a way in which an advocate of the external mind hypothesis might respond to this pressure, by either denying that this is really a difference between internal and external aspects of mind, or by saying that this difference is not sufficient to undermine this hypothesis.
The answer to this philosophy question is that this difference is not sufficient in undermining the hypothesis in the sense that there exists a distinct perceptual phenomenology which is associated with the entire retrieval of information. Experts who offer philosophy essay help at Edudorm essay writing service indicates that this is to say that although the memory might be associated with diverse phenomenology, still it remains to be brief. The other reason for this is because it is not visual hence making little difference with respect to their status as a standing belief.
References
https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/courses/philiosophical-questions
