PHL240H1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Intentionality, Computer Simulation
Document Summary
We have a mental nature, in addition to biological/chemical/etc nature. We are able to instantiate a whole bunch of other properties. Something you can do because you have a mental capacity. Something you can do and a podium cannot. We may have defined mentality in terms of mental capacities such as cognitive capacities, we must further define these mental capacities. How our mental minds relate to the bodies that we have. If not, then what are they: some argue that our minds are immaterial things. Functionalism: mind isn"t your brain; your mind stands in the same kind of relation to brain as software has to your computer. Nothing else in the world can enter into states that are about things in the way that your thoughts about coffee are about coffee. Intentionality" is the cognitive state of thinking about a thing like coffee. Mental states cause changes in your body: mental stuff makes physical stuff happen.
