| Multiple Realisability |
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BACKGROUND The identity theory is the theory that the Mind is the Brain . It is a Physicalist theory, because it denies the existence of non-physical substances. MULTIPLE REALISABILITY Multiple realisability claims that if the brain is the mind, a different brain cannot realise the same mind. Here is the theory in Syllogistic form: Brain A is mind Brain A is not brain B --- Brain B is not mind This is the principal of Identity Of Indiscernibles . Imagine that human pain is realised by a C-fibre firing and dog pain is realised by a D-fibre firing. According to the identity theory, the dog and the human cannot both be feeling pain. As an easier example, no two human brains are identical, so no two people can realise the same Mental States . According to Identity theory, if person A feels pain when he stubs his toe, it is inaccurate to say that person B also feels pain. EFFECTS As a result of this problem of multiple realisability, a lot of attention in the field of Philosophy Of Mind shifted away from the Identity theory, and toward the theory of Functionalism , which does not have a problem with multiple realisability. REFERENCES
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