Varieties of Materialism - Essay Example

Materialism of the mind holds that in cases where the mental type does not match the physical type, then it is most likely that two people may possess similar type mental event unless there occurs a difference in the type of their physical events. Graham views behaviourism theory as a philosophical concept, which largely depends on the behavioural evidence to make viable conclusions about psychological situation of a person. Behavioural theory does not rely or attempt to investigate the state of mind to draw conclusive view of individual’s psychology.

Proponents of behaviourism theory demand behavioural change with reference to different situations to compile clear understanding of a person’s psychology. Behaviourism differs from the theory of functionalism since the latter relies on the mind and argues that mental states like beliefs, desires, aspirations and pains are caused by the specific functional cognitive roles that they play in regions of their occurrence. Functionalists hold that pains are caused by bodily injuries to create a belief discomfort in the mind and seek possible ways of fleeing the situation.

This result to anxiety and weakness accompanied by conflicting desires and failure to resolve the impasse which results to moaning and depression. For example, Tye demonstrates that an individual will be terrified upon realizing the presence of a dangerous animal like shark in the surrounding (5). Tye exemplifies that the particular individual will be disturbed by simple perception of the mind concerning the dangers attributed to sharks thus inducing the urge to flee (5). Brain theory states that the brain operates due to interaction and network of neurones and cells, which enable it to solve certain problems based on the connections between its basic components and networks (Zyga).

Under Brain Theory, there are no special controlling components for certain functions of the brain instead all controls are localized and distributed equally to all parts of the brain system. Brain theorists believe that the brain in exists in a hierarchal state as there are certain parts that control other parts. Various parts of the brain learn rules of the operation in various detailed levels from the top most to the bottom. Proponents of brain theory argue that the concepts regarding functionality of the brain can be applied and related to the computer system, which synthesizes information and delivers appropriate output.

The same way brain works in procedural steps so do the brain theorists believe to be the case with the physical computers. Behaviourism and brain theories tend to differ in that the behaviourists rely on the physical outcome of the internal structure to device a conclusion over the conducts of an individual while the brain theorists rely on the progression of events from top to bottom to reach to viable conclusion about a person’s conduct and expression. While the functionalists depend on the final reaction of individuals with reference to the action and interpretation of the mind, brain theorists learn the processes and steps that led to the final and observable expression of an individual.

One of the problems attributed to behaviourism is that most behaviourists tend to believe that individuals have better access and interpretation of mental states of others than they do to themselves (Jackson 33).