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Function and Functionalism: A Synthetic Perspective

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 April 2022

Martin Mahner  and
Mario Bunge
Martin Mahner
Affiliation:
Center for Inquiry-Europe; Department of Philosophy, McGill University
Mario Bunge*
Affiliation:
Center for Inquiry-Europe; Department of Philosophy, McGill University
*
†Send requests for reprints to Martin Mahner, Center for Inquiry-Europe, Arheilger Weg 11, D-64380 Rossdorf, Germany; email: [email protected].
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Abstract

In this paper we examine the following problems: How many concepts of function are there in biology, social science, and technology? Are they logically related and if so, how? Which of these function concepts effect a functional explanation as opposed to a mere functional account? What are the consequences of a pluralist view of functions for functionalism? We submit that there are five concepts of function in biology, which are logically related in a particular way, and six function concepts in social science and technology. Only two of them may help effect a genuine functional explanation. Finally, our synthetic approach allows us to distinguish four different varieties of functionalism in biology, psychology, social science, and technology: formalist, black boxist, adaptationist, and teleological. And only one of them is explanatory in the strong sense defended here.

Type
Research Article
Information
Philosophy of Science , Volume 68 , Issue 1 , March 2001 , pp. 75 - 94
Copyright
Copyright © 2001 by the Philosophy of Science Association

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Footnotes

‡

We thank Michael Kary and Dan A. Seni, as well as an anonymous referee for useful suggestions that helped to improve the original manuscript.

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