BehaviourismBehaviourism

Methodological BehaviourismMethodological Behaviourism

In the early 20th C psychology used In the early 20th C psychology used ‘introspection’ to study the mind.‘introspection’ to study the mind. Not reliable, not repeatable, not objectiveNot reliable, not repeatable, not objective Not scientific.Not scientific. REJECTED!REJECTED!

Methodological BehaviourismMethodological Behaviourism

Restrict psychological data to just the Restrict psychological data to just the relevant observable data of the organismrelevant observable data of the organism Mental phenomena do not count as Mental phenomena do not count as

psychological data, but their psychological data, but their existence existence doesn’t doesn’t have to be deniedhave to be denied

Problem: there are difficulties in Problem: there are difficulties in formulating useful explanations of formulating useful explanations of psychological phenomena.psychological phenomena.

Logical PositivismLogical Positivism

Early in the 20th C in Europe there was a Early in the 20th C in Europe there was a reaction to the wilder flights of metaphysics. reaction to the wilder flights of metaphysics. Much of what was written appeared to be Much of what was written appeared to be meaningless. meaningless.

Propose Verificationism: Propose Verificationism: The meaning of a statement is just the conditions The meaning of a statement is just the conditions

whose verification would make that statement true.whose verification would make that statement true. Statements that have no discoverable conditions of Statements that have no discoverable conditions of

verification are meaningless – so goodbye verification are meaningless – so goodbye HeideggerHeidegger

What’s the status of the verificationist principle itself?What’s the status of the verificationist principle itself?

Heidegger says:Heidegger says:As de-severant Being-in, Dasein has As de-severant Being-in, Dasein has likewise the character of likewise the character of directionalitydirectionality. . Every bringing-close [Näherung] has Every bringing-close [Näherung] has already taken in advance a direction already taken in advance a direction towards a region out of which what is towards a region out of which what is de-severed brings itself close [sich de-severed brings itself close [sich nähert], so that one can come across it nähert], so that one can come across it with regard to its place. with regard to its place. Circumspective concern is de-severing Circumspective concern is de-severing which gives directionality. … (which gives directionality. … (und so und so weiterweiter for pages and pages.) for pages and pages.)

Logical BehaviourismLogical Behaviourism

Meaningful statements about mental Meaningful statements about mental objects have to determine behavioural objects have to determine behavioural and physical conditions.and physical conditions.

We see clearly that the We see clearly that the meaning of a psychological meaning of a psychological statement consists solely in statement consists solely in the function of abbreviating the function of abbreviating the description of certain the description of certain modes of physical response modes of physical response characteristic of the bodies of characteristic of the bodies of men and animals.men and animals.

Carl Hempel Carl Hempel (1935)(1935)

Logical BehaviourismLogical Behaviourism

Ryle reacted against the ‘Ryle reacted against the ‘Official Official DoctrineDoctrine’ of Dualism.’ of Dualism.

a human exists in two realms; a public, outer, a human exists in two realms; a public, outer, physical physical manifestation, and a private, inner, manifestation, and a private, inner, mental manifestation. mental manifestation. The realms are different The realms are different but they belong to the same but they belong to the same ‘category.’ ‘category.’

This is the dogma of the ‘This is the dogma of the ‘Ghost in the Ghost in the MachineMachine’ and it is a ’ and it is a logicallogical error that Ryle error that Ryle calls the calls the Category MistakeCategory Mistake

Logical BehaviourismLogical Behaviourism

BatsmanBatsman

Wicket KeeperWicket Keeper

Fair Fair play?play?

Logical BehaviourismLogical Behaviourism

We are in an analogous position wrt our We are in an analogous position wrt our mental operations. Where, we ask, is the mental operations. Where, we ask, is the faculty to which intelligence is due? faculty to which intelligence is due?

According to Ryle the intelligence epithets According to Ryle the intelligence epithets apply not to distinct causal entities but apply not to distinct causal entities but are descriptive of the performance of are descriptive of the performance of functions. functions. Note that as a consequence, we Note that as a consequence, we areare able to able to

know about other people’s mental conditions. know about other people’s mental conditions.

Logical BehaviourismLogical Behaviourism

TTo say that Alice is in pain is to say that o say that Alice is in pain is to say that Alice is showing pain-behaviours. Alice is showing pain-behaviours. Alice could be in pain and yet exhibit no pain Alice could be in pain and yet exhibit no pain

behaviours behaviours Alice could be not in pain and yet exhibiting Alice could be not in pain and yet exhibiting

pain behaviours. pain behaviours.

To say that Alice is in pain is to say that To say that Alice is in pain is to say that Alice is Alice is disposed disposed to show pain-to show pain-behaviours. behaviours.

Logical BehaviourismLogical Behaviourism

Ryle compares this with the description of Ryle compares this with the description of glass as brittle. It is brittle because it is glass as brittle. It is brittle because it is disposed to break when struck sharplydisposed to break when struck sharply

But isn’t there an But isn’t there an explanationexplanation for why for why glass is brittle?glass is brittle?

Yes. Brittleness is due to the internal Yes. Brittleness is due to the internal structure of the glass.structure of the glass.

By analogy we could suppose that pain-By analogy we could suppose that pain-behaviour dispositions are due to some behaviour dispositions are due to some internal structure.internal structure.

Ontological BehaviourismOntological Behaviourism

What should a behaviourist say about the What should a behaviourist say about the existence of mental things?existence of mental things?1.1. Behaviourist ways of speaking reflect the fact Behaviourist ways of speaking reflect the fact

that there are no such things as mental that there are no such things as mental objects.objects.

The The logicallogical behaviourist view. behaviourist view.

(Ryle says he thinks this.)(Ryle says he thinks this.)

2.2. Behaviourist ways of speaking are justified Behaviourist ways of speaking are justified whether or not there are really mental objects.whether or not there are really mental objects.

The The methodologicalmethodological behaviourist view. behaviourist view.

(Seems like Ryle should think this.)(Seems like Ryle should think this.)

Ontological BehaviourismOntological Behaviourism

Mental objects Mental objects just are just are categories of categories of behaviours behaviours LB does not imply OBLB does not imply OB OB does not imply LBOB does not imply LB

Problems:Problems: Pain hurtsPain hurts ‘‘Reversed spectrum’ is possible.Reversed spectrum’ is possible.

BehaviourismBehaviourism

If talk of thoughts, desires, If talk of thoughts, desires, beliefs, pains, joys, etc. is to be beliefs, pains, joys, etc. is to be rephrasable in principle in terms rephrasable in principle in terms of behaviours then these of behaviours then these behaviours have to be definable behaviours have to be definable without reference to thoughts, without reference to thoughts, desires, beliefs, pains, joys, etc. desires, beliefs, pains, joys, etc. This turns out not to be possible. This turns out not to be possible.

1.1. Circularity 1. Circularity 1.

2.2. Circularity 2.Circularity 2.

3.3. IndefinitenesIndefinitenesss

4.4. ChauvinismChauvinism

An action becomes a part of An action becomes a part of some particular behaviour some particular behaviour only with reference to a only with reference to a particular psychological particular psychological state. state.

It is impossible to define a It is impossible to define a category of actions that is category of actions that is sufficient to substitute for sufficient to substitute for any mental term without any mental term without appealing to intentional appealing to intentional terms terms

If we declare that pain, for If we declare that pain, for example, is equivalent to a example, is equivalent to a disposition to squeak, then disposition to squeak, then any creature that is any creature that is incapable of squeaking can incapable of squeaking can not have a disposition to not have a disposition to squeak and can therefore squeak and can therefore not be in pain. not be in pain.