Behaviourism

• What does behaviourism say about the meaning of words describing mental states?

  It's based on observable behaviour.
• How does a behaviourist define 'pain'?

  As observable actions like wincing and saying "ouch."
• What is irrelevant to the meaning of 'pain' according to behaviourism?

  Private inner sensations like qualia.
• What are the two types of behaviourism mentioned?

  • Hard behaviourism
  • Soft behaviourism
• What does hard behaviourism claim about mental states?

  They can be reduced to behaviours and bodily states.
• How does soft behaviourism differ from hard behaviourism?

  It focuses on behavioural dispositions, not just behaviours.
• What is a behavioural disposition?

  How something is likely to behave in certain circumstances.
• How does soft behaviourism explain someone in pain who doesn't say "ouch"?

  They still have a disposition to say "ouch."
• What is Ryle's argument against dualism?

  Mental concepts would be impossible to use.
• What is a category mistake according to Ryle?

  Confusing one type of concept with another.
• What does Ryle argue about mental states and behaviours?

  Mental states are nothing more than behaviours.
• What is the asymmetry between self and other knowledge in behaviourism?

  Self-knowledge is direct, while others' is not.
• What does the asymmetry argument suggest about behaviourism?

  It rules out differences in self and other knowledge.
• How does Ryle respond to the asymmetry argument?

  He claims the asymmetry is an illusion.
• What are super Spartans in Putnam's argument?

  A community that suppresses outward pain expressions.
• What is the zombie argument against behaviourism?

  Zombies have behaviour without internal pain experience.
• How does the zombie argument challenge behaviourism?

  It separates behavioural dispositions from feelings.
• What does multiple realizability suggest about mental states?

  They can be realized through different behaviours.
• How does multiple realizability complicate behaviourism?

  It requires analysis of behaviours based on other states.
• What is the circularity objection to behaviourism?

  It assumes other mental states for analysis.
• How does the circularity objection manifest in defining pain?

  Defining pain relies on behavioural dispositions.