The following text discusses philosophy of mind.
Functionalism in philosophy of mind defines mental states not by their physical substrate but by their causal roles. Pain, for example, is defined as whatever state is typically caused by tissue damage, causes withdrawal behavior, and produces reports of distress. This definition would apply whether the underlying system is a human brain, an alien nervous system, or a sufficiently sophisticated computer. Functionalism thus allows for "multiple realizability"—the same mental state implemented in different physical materials—making it compatible with artificial intelligence research and neurodiversity.
What is the key principle of functionalism as described in the text?
Mental states can only exist in biological brains
Mental states are defined by their functional roles, not their physical constitution
Pain has only one possible physical implementation
Computers can never have mental states
Correct Answer: B
Choice B is the correct answer. Functionalism "defines mental states not by their physical substrate but by their causal roles"—function over material.
- Evidence: Causal roles define mental states; substrate is irrelevant.
- Reasoning: Same function = same mental state regardless of material.
- Conclusion: Functional role defines mental states.
Choice A is incorrect because multiple realizability includes non-biological systems. Choice C is incorrect because the same state can appear in different materials. Choice D is incorrect because functionalism is "compatible with artificial intelligence research."