Biosemantics: An Evolutionary Theory of Thought
Crystal L’Hôte
Evolution Education and Outreach September 15, 2009 DOI: 10.1007/s12052-009-0168-6 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Citations | 5 |
| Key points | Argues that biosemantic (teleosemantic) theories, which explain mental representation by appealing to the evolutionary function of neural states as fixed by natural selection, have distinct advantages over alternatives such as Fodor's causal theory, most notably the ability to account for the possibility of mental misrepresentation. |
Abstract
Evolutionary theory has an unexpected application in philosophy of mind, where it is used by the so-called biosemantic program—also called the teleosemantic program—to account for the representational capacities of neural states and processes in a way that conforms to an overarching scientific naturalism. Biosemantic theories account for the representational capacities of neural states and processes by appealing in particular to their evolutionary function, as that function is determined by a process of natural selection. As a result, biosemantic theories have distinct advantages over other theories of mental representation—e.g., Fodor’s causal theory. Foremost among the advantages of biosemantic theories is their ability to account for the possibility of mental misrepresentation.