Past Event: ELLMM City: Brice Bantegnie (UC Riverside)

Title: Where the Philosophy of Cognitive Science Went Wrong

Abstract: One can hardly overestimate the influence of Jerry Fodor on the philosophy of cognitive science. Fodor has left us two main problems. Firstly, the problem of vindicating folk psychology. Secondly, the problem of explaining our cognitive capacities. These two problems arise for Fodor’s preferred view, namely, the classical theory postulating the existence of a language of thought. I take it that these two problems both arise from a mistake assumption, namely, that mental states are internal particulars. In this talk, I aim to show that taking seriously the platitude that mental states are states individuals are in dissolves these problems.