What Price Neurophilosophy ?

Abstract

If the appropriate cognitive model of the mind is a connectionist model, then what does the future of folk psychology (FP) look like? “Bleak” say the eliminative materialists. In several recent articles and books Paul and Patricia Churchland have been arguing by demonstration that there are models on which to explain all behavior—not merely cognitive behavior—models which are more fruitful than FP. These models, which are connectionist in nature, are supposed to describe a better theory of behavior than FP, and so will eventually replace it. In this paper I look at several arguments the Churchlands have advanced for the thesis that FP will be replaced in a mature cognitive science, i.e., that connectionism will supplant FP.