Folk psychology is often simply addressed as a rough-known set of concepts, generalisations and rules of thumb we all standardly use to explain and predict human behaviour. It is also often referred as common sense psychology since the term “folk” seems to be depictive and unscientific as in “folk physics” or “folk biology” which seem to characterize a more simplistic and superfluous version of the “real” sciences.
The idea of folk psychology seems to be claiming for scientific grounding to be true. But with that certain problems, such as the very basic question of folk psychology as a real science and theory arise, which shall be inquired in the following sections.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Eliminativism about folk psychology
- In defence of folk psychology
- Folk psychology and mental representations
- Summary
- Literature
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This text explores the nature of folk psychology, examining both its strengths and weaknesses. It delves into the arguments for and against the existence of mental states, particularly in the light of scientific advancements in neuroscience.
- The definition and role of folk psychology in explaining and predicting human behavior
- The philosophical debate surrounding eliminative materialism, which proposes the eventual elimination of folk psychology
- Arguments in defense of folk psychology, highlighting its practical utility and empirical evidence
- The relationship between folk psychology and mental representations, exploring the nature of beliefs and desires
- The potential impact of a purely scientific understanding of the brain on our understanding of mental processes and behavior
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Introduction: This chapter introduces the concept of folk psychology as a common-sense framework for understanding human behavior. It explores the different ways in which folk psychology is understood, including its role in predicting, attributing, and explaining behavior in terms of mental states.
- Eliminativism about folk psychology: This chapter focuses on the theory of eliminative materialism, which argues that folk psychology is a fundamentally flawed theory that will ultimately be replaced by neuroscience. It examines the critiques of folk psychology, particularly the arguments put forward by Paul and Patricia Churchland.
- In defense of folk psychology: This chapter presents counterarguments to the eliminativist position. It argues that folk psychology serves a valuable purpose in our everyday lives and that its practical efficacy provides strong evidence for its continued relevance.
- Folk psychology and mental representations: This chapter delves into the relationship between folk psychology and mental representations. It explores how folk psychology uses concepts such as beliefs and desires to explain human behavior.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Folk psychology, eliminative materialism, mental states, neuroscience, beliefs, desires, common sense psychology, scientific theory, empirical evidence, mental representations, human behavior, mind-brain relationships.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is "Folk Psychology"?
Folk psychology is the common-sense framework we use to explain and predict human behavior by attributing mental states such as beliefs, desires, and intentions to others.
What is the main argument of "Eliminative Materialism"?
Eliminativists argue that folk psychology is a fundamentally flawed theory that will eventually be replaced by a more accurate scientific understanding provided by neuroscience.
Who are the main proponents of Eliminativism?
Paul and Patricia Churchland are key figures who argue that mental states like "beliefs" do not actually exist in the brain as described by common sense.
How is folk psychology defended against scientific criticism?
Defenders argue that folk psychology is highly successful in daily life for predicting behavior and that its practical utility suggests it captures real aspects of cognitive processes.
What is the role of mental representations in this debate?
The debate centers on whether our internal states are structured like sentences (representations) or whether the brain functions in a way that makes these concepts scientifically obsolete.
Is folk psychology considered a scientific theory?
This is a central question of the text. Some see it as a "proto-scientific" theory, while others view it as a non-scientific but essential social tool.
- Quote paper
- Christian Risse (Author), 2016, The Debate about Folk Psychology, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/345135
