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Questions and Answers
What did alchemists believe about inanimate matter?
What did alchemists believe about inanimate matter?
Which of the following was NOT one of the four fundamental spirits according to alchemists?
Which of the following was NOT one of the four fundamental spirits according to alchemists?
What aspect of metal properties was mercury believed to be responsible for?
What aspect of metal properties was mercury believed to be responsible for?
How did alchemists acquire control over materials according to the passage?
How did alchemists acquire control over materials according to the passage?
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What did alchemists believe about the development of nonmaterial aspects of substances?
What did alchemists believe about the development of nonmaterial aspects of substances?
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What primarily influenced the predictions and control that alchemists had?
What primarily influenced the predictions and control that alchemists had?
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What eventually replaced the alchemical tradition noted in the passage?
What eventually replaced the alchemical tradition noted in the passage?
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What characterizes the alchemist's view of matter in their practices?
What characterizes the alchemist's view of matter in their practices?
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What is indicated as the reason that alchemists could create gold?
What is indicated as the reason that alchemists could create gold?
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Which theory is used as an example of a functionalist strategy in the content?
Which theory is used as an example of a functionalist strategy in the content?
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What is deemed as the nature of the defense of alchemy discussed in the content?
What is deemed as the nature of the defense of alchemy discussed in the content?
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According to the content, what challenge arises from the functionalist strategem?
According to the content, what challenge arises from the functionalist strategem?
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What does the content suggest about the naturalistic displacement of properties?
What does the content suggest about the naturalistic displacement of properties?
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What aspect makes a piece of matter gold, according to the content?
What aspect makes a piece of matter gold, according to the content?
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What historical theories does the content suggest could be revived through functionalist reasoning?
What historical theories does the content suggest could be revived through functionalist reasoning?
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What aspect of alchemy is emphasized as being inferior to natural processes?
What aspect of alchemy is emphasized as being inferior to natural processes?
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What perspective provides a coherent story of human constitution and development?
What perspective provides a coherent story of human constitution and development?
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Which of the following best describes the relationship between FP (Folk Psychology) and the physical sciences according to the text?
Which of the following best describes the relationship between FP (Folk Psychology) and the physical sciences according to the text?
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What does the term 'conceptual inertia' refer to in relation to FP?
What does the term 'conceptual inertia' refer to in relation to FP?
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What does the text suggest about the explanatory power of FP?
What does the text suggest about the explanatory power of FP?
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What historical comparison is made regarding FP's stagnation?
What historical comparison is made regarding FP's stagnation?
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How is the development of physical sciences described in relation to understanding human behavior?
How is the development of physical sciences described in relation to understanding human behavior?
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What is suggested about FP's future possibilities concerning reduction to physical sciences?
What is suggested about FP's future possibilities concerning reduction to physical sciences?
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What does the author imply about the significance of the current theoretical synthesis of human understanding?
What does the author imply about the significance of the current theoretical synthesis of human understanding?
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What is suggested about the current conception of rationality in relation to cognitive virtue?
What is suggested about the current conception of rationality in relation to cognitive virtue?
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Why is language use considered a peripheral activity?
Why is language use considered a peripheral activity?
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What does the text imply about the relationship between propositional attitudes and cognitive virtue?
What does the text imply about the relationship between propositional attitudes and cognitive virtue?
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What is considered necessary for a more profound understanding of cognitive virtue?
What is considered necessary for a more profound understanding of cognitive virtue?
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How does eliminative materialism relate to normative concerns?
How does eliminative materialism relate to normative concerns?
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In what way does the author suggest we should explore future possibilities in understanding cognitive virtue?
In what way does the author suggest we should explore future possibilities in understanding cognitive virtue?
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What limitation does the author attribute to FP’s conception of rationality?
What limitation does the author attribute to FP’s conception of rationality?
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What does 'propositional kinematics' refer to in the context of the text?
What does 'propositional kinematics' refer to in the context of the text?
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What does the term 'vital spirit' refer to in the context provided?
What does the term 'vital spirit' refer to in the context provided?
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What is the main argument against the anti-vitalist claim mentioned?
What is the main argument against the anti-vitalist claim mentioned?
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According to the content, what does 'folk psychology' refer to?
According to the content, what does 'folk psychology' refer to?
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What is described as a significant tension in good scientific theories?
What is described as a significant tension in good scientific theories?
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What is implied about the relationship between theoretical terms and observable criteria?
What is implied about the relationship between theoretical terms and observable criteria?
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What does the term 'trade-off' signify in the context of scientific theory construction?
What does the term 'trade-off' signify in the context of scientific theory construction?
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Which statement best summarizes the author's view on the displacement of folk psychology?
Which statement best summarizes the author's view on the displacement of folk psychology?
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How does the author view the relationship between evidence and system in scientific theories?
How does the author view the relationship between evidence and system in scientific theories?
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Study Notes
Key arguments for Eliminative Materialism
- The author argues that folk psychology (FP) is a "terrible theory" that should be eliminated because it is not supported by modern scientific understanding, particularly neuroscience.
- FP relies on intentional categories like "beliefs" and "desires" to explain human behavior, but these categories are not reducible to the physical and biological processes that actually underlie our cognition and behavior.
- FP's reliance on intentional categories is analogous to the pre-scientific theories of alchemy, phlogiston, the four humors, or vitalism, which were ultimately replaced by more scientific and accurate theories that did not rely on non-material explanations.
- FP is a "smokescreen" that masks the lack of a solid theoretical foundation and stifles scientific progress.
- Because our understanding of cognitive virtue is currently based on FP, we cannot fully grasp the nature of intellectual virtue. We need to go beyond FP's limitations to understand both human cognition and the nature of rationality.
- A truly informed future perspective on cognitive virtue will arise from a mature neuroscience—providing a deeper and more general understanding of the kinematics of cognitive activity.
Example of FP's limitations
- FP holds that "beliefs" and "desires" are necessary to explain human behavior. The author argues that this view is analogous to alchemists who believed that the properties of matter were due to the presence of spirits or essences. The author compares these outdated views to FP, arguing that FP relies on outdated ideas about the human mind and behavior.
The problem with the Functionalist Strategem
- The author criticizes the "functionalist strategem," which attempts to preserve traditional FP categories by redefining them in terms of their causal roles.
- The author rejects this approach, arguing that it amounts to a mere "charade," a smoke screen that disguises FP's fundamental flaws. He draws parallels with alchemy, arguing that FP is just as outdated as alchemy.
The argument against Anti-Vitalism
- The author uses an example of an argument against anti-vitalism: The anti-vitalist claims that there is no such thing as "vital spirit." The author states that the argument is self-refuting because if the statement is true then the speaker does not have a "vital spirit" and is therefore dead. If that's true, then the speaker's statement is meaningless.
- The author uses this example to illustrate the argument that FP is self-defeating.
Eliminative Materialism and Normative Concerns
- While eliminative materialism replaces FP, it doesn't eliminate normative concerns. Instead, it requires them to be reconsidered and redefined within the framework of a matured neuroscience.
Overall Argument
- The author advocates for "eliminative materialism," which eliminates folk psychology in favor of a more accurate scientific understanding of the mind and behavior.
- This shift will lead to a deeper and more refined understanding of cognitive virtue.
- This view requires re-evaluating our conceptions of rationality and cognitive virtue within the context of a mature neuroscience.
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Description
This quiz explores key arguments for Eliminative Materialism, particularly critiquing folk psychology (FP) as an inadequate framework for understanding human cognition and behavior. It discusses the need to move beyond FP in order to embrace a more scientifically robust understanding of intellectual virtue.