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  • Andre Ariew, Robert Cummins & Mark Perlman (2002). Functions: New Essays in the Philosophy of Psychology and Biology. Oxford University Press.
    Functions in Philosophy of Biology
    Teleological Accounts of Mental Content in Philosophy of Mind
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Similar books and articles
  • 79.9Berent Enc (2002). Indeterminacy of Function Attributions. In Andre Ariew, Robert Cummins & Mark Perlman (eds.), Functions: New Essays in the Philosophy of Psychology and Biology.
    Teleological Accounts of Mental Content in Philosophy of Mind
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  • 73.4Gary Hatfield (1999). Mental Functions as Constraints on Neurophysiology: Biology and Psychology of Vision. In V. Harcastle (ed.), Where Biology Meets Psychology.
    Perception and Neuroscience in Philosophy of Mind
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  • 70.5Steven P. R. Rose (1987). Molecules and Minds: Essays on Biology and the Social Order. Open University Press.
    Philosophy of Biology
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  • 69.2Jennifer Mundale & William P. Bechtel (1996). Integrating Neuroscience, Psychology, and Evolutionary Biology Through a Teleological Conception of Function. Minds and Machines 6 (4):481-505.
    The idea of integrating evolutionary biology and psychology has great promise, but one that will be compromised if psychological functions are conceived too abstractly and neuroscience is not allowed to play a contructive role. We argue that the proper integration of neuroscience, psychology, and evolutionary biology requires a telelogical as opposed to a merely componential analysis of function. A teleological analysis is required in neuroscience itself; we point to traditional and curent research methods in neuroscience, which make critical use of (...) distinctly teleological functional considerations in brain cartography. Only by invoking teleological criteria can researchers distinguish the fruitful ways of identifying brain components from the myriad of possible ways. One likely reason for reluctance to turn to neuroscience is fear of reduction, but we argue that, in the context of a teleological perspective on function, this concern is misplaced. Adducing such theoretical considerations as top-down and bottom-up constraints on neuroscientific and psychological models, as well as existing cases of productive, multidisciplinary cooperation, we argue that integration of neuroscience into psychology and evolutionary biology is likely to be mutually beneficial. We also show how it can be accommodated methodologically within the framework of an interfield theory. (shrink)
    Reduction and Interlevel Relations, Misc in General Philosophy of Science
    Evolutionary Biology in Philosophy of Biology
    Philosophy of Neuroscience in Philosophy of Cognitive Science
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  • 67.5William P. Bechtel & Jennifer Mundale (1996). Integrating Neuroscience, Psychology, and Evolutionary Biology Through a Teleological Conception of Function. Minds And Machines 6 (4):481-505.
    The idea of integrating evolutionary biology and psychology has great promise, but one that will be compromised if psychological functions are conceived too abstractly and neuroscience is not allowed to play a contructive role. We argue that the proper integration of neuroscience, psyychology, and evolutionary biology requires a telelogical as opposed to a merely componential analysis of function. A teleological analysis is required in neuroscience itself; we point to traditional and curent research methods in neuroscience, which make critical use of (...) distinctly teleological functional considerations in brain cartography. Only by invoking teleological criteria can researchers distinguish the fruitful ways of identifying brain components from the myriad of possible ways. One likely reason for reluctance to turn to neuroscience is fear of reduction, but we argue that, in the context of a teleological perspective on function, this concern is misplaced. Adducing such theoretical considerations as top-down and bottom-up constraints on neuroscientific and psychological models, as well as existing cases of productive, multidisciplinary cooperation, we argue that integration of neuroscience into psychology and evolutionary biology is likely to be mutually beneficial. We also show how it can be accommodated methodologically within the framework of an interfield theory. (shrink)
    Reduction in Psychology and Neuroscience in Philosophy of Mind
    Reduction and Interlevel Relations, Misc in General Philosophy of Science
    Evolutionary Biology in Philosophy of Biology
    Explanation in Neuroscience in Philosophy of Cognitive Science
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  • 67.5Ron Amundson & George V. Lauder (1994). Function Without Purpose. Biology and Philosophy 9 (4).
    Philosophers of evolutionary biology favor the so-called etiological concept of function according to which the function of a trait is its evolutionary purpose, defined as the effect for which that trait was favored by natural selection. We term this the selected effect (SE) analysis of function. An alternative account of function was introduced by Robert Cummins in a non-evolutionary and non-purposive context. Cummins''s account has received attention but little support from philosophers of biology. This paper will show that a similar (...) non-purposive concept of function, which we term causal role (CR) function, is crucial to certain research programs in evolutionary biology, and that philosophical criticisms of Cummins''s concept are ineffective in this scientific context. Specifically, we demonstrate that CR functions are a vital and ineliminable part of research in comparative and functional anatomy, and that biological categories used by anatomists are not defined by the application of SE functional analysis. Causal role functions are non-historically defined, but may themselves be used in an historical analysis. Furthermore, we show that a philosophical insistence on the primary of SE functions places practicing biologists in an untenable position, as such functions can rarely be demonstrated (in contrast to CR functions). Biologists who study the form and function of organismal design recognize that it is virtually impossible to identify the past action of selection on any particular structure retrospectively, a requirement for recognizing SE functions. (shrink)
    Philosophy of Biology
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  • 63.8Paul M. Churchland (1982). Is 'Thinker' a Natural Kind? Dialogue 21 (June):223-38.
    Reduction in Psychology and Neuroscience in Philosophy of Mind
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  • 63.2Paul E. Griffiths (1993). Functional Analysis and Proper Functions. British Journal for the Philosophy of Science 44 (3):409-422.
    The etiological approach to ‘proper functions’ in biology can be strengthened by relating it to Robert Cummins' general treatment of function ascription. The proper functions of a biological trait are the functions it is assigned in a Cummins-style functional explanation of the fitness of ancestors. These functions figure in selective explanations of the trait. It is also argued that some recent etiological theories include inaccurate accounts of selective explanation in biology. Finally, a generalization of the notion of selective explanation allows (...) an analysis of the proper functions of human artifacts. (shrink)
    Science, Logic, and Mathematics
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  • 63.0G. Schlosser (2003). Naturalizing Functions-Unity Beyond Pluralism? - Functions-New Essays in the Philosophy of Psychology and Biologyandre Ariew, Robert Cummins, & Mark Perlman (Eds.); Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2002, Pp.VIII+449, Price £50.00 Hardback, ISBN 0-19-925580-6, Price £16.99 Paperback, ISBN 0-19-925581-. Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part C 34 (4):685-697.
    Philosophy of Psychology in Philosophy of Cognitive Science
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  • 62.1W. H. Thorpe (1961). Biology, Psychology, and Belief. Cambridge [Eng.]University Press.
    No categories
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