Philosophy of the Mind; Functionalism

Name: University: Course: Tutor: Date: Philosophy of the Mind; Functionalism Functionalism is a branch of science that majorly deals with the state of mind of an individual. Therefore, scientists argue that the behaviors of individuals are determined by the mind, scientists further states that the mind of an individual is the key determinant of an individual’s behavior. Scientists define functionalism as a theory based on philosophical process, according to philosophers some functions of the mind includes every feelings a person has, a persons thoughts Emotions, Reactions and Ideas (Putnam, 1991). Thus functionalism is seen as a person’s reaction as a result of the body of the person interaction with the surrounding environment and the stimuli that is released as a result of the interpretation of the environmental condition. The current environmental condition of the individual will trigger a stimulus aimed at corresponding with the environmental condition affecting the mental condition of the individual to react in accordance to the environment condition. These reactions will result to the body adapting to the environmental condition. Functionalist is a person or group of people, or a theory, which studies the human behaviors and uses the acquired information to develop new ideas that are to be used or to be later adopted by people living in a particular place or region. This idea has to be well planned and developed in order to attract the support of the people living in the region (Fodor, 1950). A good example is the case of a waiter in the restaurant who serves the customers and at the same time the waiter will clean up the mess caused by the customers once they are through with eating. Therefore, a functionalist is a person who creates room and ideas that facilitates the correct running of activities in a given place or area. Reliability can be defined as the theory of failures and this failure cuts across diverse ways that affects the people and individuals who depend on a given thing for the normal functioning of the organization or there own self benefits. Therefore, multiple reliabilities are a theory that is set to ensure that the various setbacks being encountered in life are well talked in order to realize the satisfaction of the concerned groups must work together. Hence, in order to realize the satisfaction of the services being offered to the individuals or specific group (Putnam, 1991). The notion ensures that all the sectors in a given population are supposed to be well cared of and the treatment that is supposed to be accorded to them should be in a manner that favors all the section in the population. Therefore, this notion is to oversee the equal distribution of the resources to the people at the same time the organizations that offer there customers with resources, goods and services strive at giving there clients high quality of services and improved services. Making it easy for the clients and patients to experience happiness and also appreciate the services provided to them. Functionalists are therefore supposed to offer good ideas to the entire society this is by providing people with reasonable ideas that facilitate the correct functioning of the society. Therefore, this theory will help sustain the society by ensuring that the ideas and processes they are engaged in yields productive results. Functionalists in one hand are seen as the driving force of a given idea aimed at realizing the success of a given condition or situation this will contribute to the society realizing great success. This is by encouraging the varied groups with different responsibilities in the society to work as a team in realizing the success and satisfaction of the people depending on the services. Therefore, in the end of it this ensures that all the parties involved in this process get satisfied results that will of great benefit to all the parties involved. This is by providing each of the involved teams with sufficient room for practicing and delivering their services and collaboration with other service / good providers in providing quality and improved services to there customers, individuals and society that live around it (Putnam, 1991). Is functionalism more plausible than Identity Theory by Jack Smart’s? Both of these theories deal with the mental and psychological connections as both the theories are evaluating on the behaviors of the individuals, Functionalism theory is based on the environmental influence of the individuals while Identity theory is based on the independence and interdependence of both the mind and the environment as it is noted in this theory. Jack Smart’s Identity theory indicates that the body is a component that has got variety parts working as a team in ensuring that the body performs its functions as one unit. Therefore, in this theory the mind and brain are seen as different entities but there actions are identical (Stanford, 2000). This is that the outcome and procession form the mind is similar as the outcome and procession from the brain as this theory doesn’t see these two entities as one similar thing but it sees them as two distinctly different entities, Therefore the theory known as identity theory of the mind states that the results of an individual are as a result of the brain processes and the identity between the mind and the brain are in no way related or connected therefore the mind and the brain are different entities that work independently of each other (Park and Burgess, 2000). Identity theory is a theory that determines the behaviors of an individual after the brain and the mind processes the idea to be implemented. Therefore, an individual goes through a combination of decision making and thoughtful thinking processes implemented by these two entities (Putnam, 1991). In application it’s seen that the application processed determines the groupings that an individual will take in the society. The most believable theory between these two theories is the Functionalism theory; this is because the functionalism theory is seen as the one that is responsible for the reproducing the identity theory. Functionalism theory determines the individual actions automatically as the identity theory will form an individuals behaviors (Turing, 1950). The environment in which we live in is mostly what determines the behaviors of individuals. As the surrounding environment at the moment will result to the body and mind reacting to it and this by it eliciting a stimuli that will be as a result of the body trying to adapt to the environment conditions at the moment thus making the mind to elicit the most relevant reactions that will enable the individual to fit in the environment at that moment. Functionalism theory basically is the most appropriate and most believable this is seen from its explanations and theories, as an individual’s emotions, feelings, thoughts and ideas are as a result of the reactions to the surrounding environment (Stanford, 20...