Lexicon of Arguments

Philosophical and Scientific Issues in Dispute
 
[german]


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Theses I
Theses II

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Ruth G. Millikan Verschiedene Arten von zweckgerichtetem Verhalten in: Dominik Perler, Markus Wild (eds.) Der Geist der Tiere, Frankfurt 2005

II 201
Animal/Purpose/Millikan: the anthropomorphism equips animals with plans or human-like purposes, i.e. with cognitions.
To do this, one needs a theory, about what is purpose, cognition and human cognition.
I distinguish between
1. Biological,
2. "intentional" purpose direction: this has to do with recognizing purposes and having plans.
Thesis: there can be no investigation of the behavior that is not implicitly based on a speculation about what the biological purpose direction is.
The intentional purpose direcetion is more problematic. It is a form of biological purpose.
>Intentionality, >Animals.
II 202
Purpose/biological/Millikan: E.g. Heartbeat, e.g. a frog ejecting its tongue. Biological function is the historical survival value.
>Functional explanation.
Behavior/Millikan: why can behavior not be investigated without referring to biological purpose?
II 203
There can be an infinite number of possible descriptions ((s) Cf. >"Is language infinite?") that can be given for a behavior. The mouse runs towards its hole, but also to the north, towards London, or towards the broom. Here, it is clear that only the former description is relevant.
II 204
That mice run away from cats is the key. Because it is a recurring phenomenon. That they are running towards a broom is not a recurring phenomenon.
II 205
Not any output of an animal is relevant behavior. E.g. "knee twitching" has no survival value. E.g but sneezing probably has one.
II 207
For example, if my blinking makes you smile, namely as a biological purpose, I will not recognize this purpose; I will not blink because I think of that purpose.
>Purposes.

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