Active learning ideas
Philosophical Behaviourism is a physicalist theory that claims mental states are not 'inner' private events, but are instead reducible to outward behaviour or 'dispositions' to behave. Students study Hempel's 'hard' behaviourism (translation into physics) and Ryle's 'soft' behaviourism (dispositions). A key focus is Ryle's attack on the 'category mistake' of treating the mind as a separate 'thing'.
Activity 01
Students are given a mental state (e.g., 'thirst'). Instead of saying how it feels, they must list 10 'if...then' behavioural dispositions (e.g., 'if offered water, they will drink'). This models Ryle's view of the mind.
Can mental states be translated into statements about behaviour without loss of meaning?
Activity 02
Stations show examples like 'I've seen the players and the pitch, but where is the team spirit?'. Students move around identifying why looking for a 'mind' in addition to 'behaviours' is, according to Ryle, a similar error.
How does the asymmetry between self-knowledge and knowledge of others challenge behaviourism?
Activity 03
Based on Putnam's thought experiment, students debate whether a 'Super-Spartan' (who feels pain but shows zero behaviour) proves behaviourism wrong. This tests the limits of reducing feelings to actions.
What is a category mistake?
A few notes on teaching this unit
Watch Out for These Misconceptions
Behaviourism says we don't have thoughts.
It says thoughts *are* just ways of behaving or being disposed to behave. Using the 'fragility' analogy (a glass is fragile even when not breaking) helps students understand 'dispositions'.
Ryle and Hempel believe the exact same thing.
Hempel wanted to translate mind-talk into the language of physics; Ryle was more interested in how we use ordinary language. Peer-mapping their differences helps students avoid oversimplification.
Methods used in this brief
Mind-Brain Type Identity Theory
An investigation into the claim that mental states are ontologically reducible to brain states. Students will consider arguments regarding multiple realisability.
8 methodologies
Eliminative Materialism
Students explore Churchland's argument that folk psychology is a false theory and that mental states do not exist. They will evaluate the counter-intuitive nature of this stance.
8 methodologies
Functionalism
A study of functionalism as an alternative to identity theory and behaviourism. Students will examine how mental states are defined by their functional roles and evaluate the 'inverted spectrum' objection.
8 methodologies