Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-hfldf Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-06-04T21:59:28.100Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Difficulties in interpretation associated with substitution failure

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 October 1999

Eric Zarahn
Affiliation:
Department of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104 ericz@mail.med.upenn.edu cortex.med.upenn.edu/~zarahn/

Abstract

In one of their arguments against the radical neuron doctrine, Gold & Stoljar (G&S) use the idea that, in certain situations, equivalent terms may not be substitutable into statements that regard properties of the objects to which the terms refer. This device allows G&S to refute the necessity of the conclusion that “the science of the mind equals the science of the brain” even though they take as a premise that the mind equals the brain. I argue, however, that this practice leaves the meaning of the “science of the mind” and the “science of the brain” indeterminate.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Copyright
© 1999 Cambridge University Press

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)