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    Inverse View

    It is not the case that The identity theorist need not use the word 'mental' in the topic-neutral formula

    ?Set your confidence on the premises below to see your aggregate.

    Reasons For

    2 perspectives
    Reason for 1 of 2
    ?
    • 1.Topic-neutral formulas must still individuate the target phenomena, and 'mental' carries irreducible intentional content that no neutral descriptor captures.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 2.Chalmers' hard problem shows phenomenal consciousness has intrinsic qualitative character that resists re-description in topic-neutral causal-functional terms.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    Reason for 2 of 2
    ?
    • 1.Kripke's modal argument establishes that 'pain' is a rigid designator picking out its referent by essential phenomenal character, not contingent causal role.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 2.If mental terms rigidly designate phenomenal properties, then substituting topic-neutral functional descriptions changes the subject matter rather than remaining neutral about it.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    Reasons Against

    1 perspective
    Reason against
    ?
    • 1.To be topic-neutral is to be applicable to both physical and mental domains, as arithmetic is applicable without being inherently physical or mental
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 2.The word 'mental' in ordinary usage is a grab-bag term covering heterogeneous cases such as 'mental arithmetic' and 'mental illness'
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 3.An identity theorist finds no trouble with the ordinary, non-theoretical uses of 'mental'
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

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