Functionalism

Functionalism is one of the most recent theories of mind, and as such, it has been a target of much criticism. While it is certain that functionalism is a theory that contains a number of flaws as a result of its contemporary nature, it is apparent that a lot of the criticisms it has received are misguided. The modern theory of functionalism proposes that mental states of humans should be identified by the function that those mental states sever rather than the material composition. To demonstrate functionalism, pain is often used as an example. Suppose that pain is a mental state associated with bodily injury. If functionalism were true, then a creature with a completely different physical constitution could be in pain assuming it possessed…

Structural functionalism is a theory that explains why society functions the way it does and how different institutions work together in order to create a well-functioning society. This theory explains how everyone’s lives are built based around social structures and basic human behavior. The different institutions in society are: government, education, economic, family, and religion. Each one of the institutions create a different social structure, behavior, and role in society. Examples of…

watching my nephew being brought into the world. The complexity of pregnancy and the beauty of life is something I can’t explain. The moment my nephew entered into the world, I instantly knew there had to be a beautiful creator behind it all. I think majority of the time abortions happen is because the mother is not supported. Majority of mothers are told they are ill-equipped, destroying their lives, and throwing their future away. They aren’t given the option to choose life. The mother aborts…

In this essay I will argue that functionalism is the right way to view the ideology of the inverted spectrum. I will first briefly explain the inverted spectrum, then stating why it is a problem for functionalist’s. I will follow by considering the objections to functionalism due to it’s uncertainty to explain why different people feel the same experience. However, I will argue it is the best way when thinking about the inverted spectrum because although it may remain a “subjective experience”…

Structural Functionalism Structural functionalism is a framework for building theory that sees society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability. In Animal Farm, Old Major’s dream was to create a utopian society where harmony and equality was the standard. He wanted to create a society where animals were unified and everyone was treated as equals. He believed this was possible if they didn’t “tyrannize over each other,” and fall prey to vices like…

Putnam advocates for functionalism, the idea that the mind is defined by what it does, rather than what it is composed of. The mind serves a purpose similar to that of a machine, taking various inputs, performing a function, and producing certain outputs. He contests the arguments of the brain-state theory which claims that mental processes and brain processes are the same. I will claim that Putnam’s argument for functionalism is successful because he does not place limits on the inputs for…

In this paper I will define, explain, and give an example of functionalism. Then, I will examine the three premises and conclusion that constitute the Absent Qualia argument against Functionalism. Additionally, I will evaluate premise 1 of the Absent Qualia argument and explain my agreement. Lastly, I will evaluate premise 2 of the Absent Qualia argument and explain my disagreement with Phenomenal Consciousness. Functionalism is the idea that a particular mental state is identified by…

Exam Short Answer Question # 1 Structural Functionalism is a theory that argues society is a sum of various parts or institutions, which are all unique yet play an important role in maintaining the stability of society. Theorist view each part of society as significant, and that all the parts are interdependent. Furthermore, if there is a disruption in a single institution, the result would cause society to be impacted and thrown off balance. Each part of society, for example the economy may…

1.Introduction 1.1 Structural Functionalism Structural Functionalism is a basic perspective of sociology, which portrays society as one structure with several parts. Functionalism interprets the society as one which has several elements like the customs, norms, institutions, etc. The Functionalism perspective is one of the oldest in society and the most effective one. It began in the 19th century. It characterizes each sector of the society and how it is related to the concern of maintain…

For the United States, it was incredibly difficult to be raised in a period of sustained prosperity and consumption and respond to these hard times efficiently. American political attitudes and institutions adapted as needed to the horrific events. The focus of this paper is to relate functionalism and the Great Recession with one another, comparing and contrasting Durkheim’s ideas with what took place in America several years ago. Durkheim noted that function can mean either “a system of…