Issues with physicalism

• What can behavioral data indicate about a person?

  Range of potential behaviors
• What does the term "multiple realizability" refer to?

  Particular mental states can manifest in different behaviors
• How can the belief that it will rain manifest in behavior?

  • Stay at home
  • Go out with an umbrella
  • Wear a raincoat
• Why is a complete analysis of mental states difficult?

  It would need to include all possible behaviors
• Why is the behavioral analysis of mental states considered circular?

  It reintroduces mental state terms repeatedly
• What does a complete behavioral analysis require?

  Reduction of all mental states to behavior
• How does the belief about a poisoned drink affect behavior?

  It may prevent drinking despite thirst
• What is the significance of the asymmetry in knowing mental states?

  Self-awareness does not require behavioral evidence
• How do we typically learn about others' mental states?

  By observing their behavior
• What does everyday experience suggest about mental states?

  Mental states influence our behavior
• How does behaviorism conflict with common sense?

  It fails to explain why we act as we do
• What advantage does common sense have over behaviorism?

  It provides explanations for our actions
• What are the key criticisms of behaviorism discussed?

  • Inability to account for subjective experiences
  • Circularity in analysis of mental states
  • Conflict with common sense understanding
• What does Ryle's dispositional analysis attempt to address?

  Concerns about behaviorism's plausibility
• What does Putnam's 'Super-Spartans' example illustrate?

  Pain can exist without behavioral manifestation
• What conclusion does Putnam draw about pain behavior?

  Pain behavior is a symptom, not constitutive
• What should you be able to explain regarding physicalism?

  • Key ideas of physicalism
  • Hempel's "hard" version of philosophical behaviorism