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<p><b>New page</b></p><div>[[File:Eliminative Materialism2.svg|thumb]] '''Eliminative Materialism''' is a philosophical [[philosophy|position]] in the [[mind-body problem]] within [[philosophy of mind]]. It argues that common-sense [[psychology|psychological]] concepts like [[belief]], [[desire]], and [[emotion]] do not have a coherent basis in the physical laws that govern the universe and thus cannot be reliably mapped onto [[brain]] structures or functions. Proponents of eliminative materialism suggest that as our understanding of [[neuroscience]] advances, these folk psychological concepts will be eliminated in favor of more accurate descriptions that arise from the [[neuroscience|neuroscientific]] perspective.<br />
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==Overview==<br />
Eliminative materialism posits that many or all of the mental states and properties that people believe in do not actually exist. It challenges the traditional [[dualism|dualistic]] view that the mind and body are fundamentally different in substance and suggests instead that everything about the mind can and should be understood in terms of its physical basis.<br />
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==Historical Background==<br />
The roots of eliminative materialism can be traced back to the [[philosophy of science]] and [[logical positivism]] movements, which emphasized a stringent empirical approach to philosophical questions. Philosophers such as [[Paul Feyerabend]] and [[Richard Rorty]] in the 20th century further developed the theory, arguing against the feasibility of a scientific psychology that includes folk psychological terms.<br />
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==Arguments for Eliminative Materialism==<br />
Proponents argue that folk psychology has been stagnant in its development and has failed to produce testable hypotheses or to integrate with the burgeoning field of neuroscience. They also point to the history of science, noting how theories and entities (such as phlogiston in chemistry or the ether in physics) have been eliminated when they ceased to be useful for explaining phenomena.<br />
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==Criticism==<br />
Eliminative materialism has faced criticism from both [[philosophy|philosophers]] and [[cognitive science|cognitive scientists]]. Critics argue that folk psychological concepts are deeply embedded in human language and culture, making them indispensable for understanding human behavior. Others suggest that eliminative materialism underestimates the complexity of the brain and the potential for folk psychology and neuroscience to co-evolve.<br />
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==Implications==<br />
The implications of eliminative materialism are profound, affecting fields such as [[psychology]], [[neuroscience]], [[artificial intelligence]], and [[ethics]]. If true, it could lead to a radical rethinking of issues ranging from the nature of personal identity to the basis of moral responsibility.<br />
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==See Also==<br />
* [[Philosophy of mind]]<br />
* [[Materialism]]<br />
* [[Dualism (philosophy of mind)|Dualism]]<br />
* [[Functionalism (philosophy of mind)|Functionalism]]<br />
* [[Cognitive science]]<br />
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[[Category:Philosophy of mind]]<br />
[[Category:Materialism]]<br />
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