Theories of Mind and Pain

I. There is some sense in which pain is alike for all. However:

A. Beings may differ in the sense that their pain may have different sources.

B. Beings may differ in the sense that their pain may be experienced differently--e.g., a Martian's, a madman's.

II. Theory of mind that assumes the possibility of pain must account for causal and experiential differences in experience of pain--two different kinds of contingency.

A. Identity theory: accounts for common man and madman, ignoring (common) Martian; i.e., source the same but not experienced as such.

B. Functionalism/behaviorism: accounts for common man and Martian, ignoring madman; i.e., experience the same but source of pain different.

. . .
Some common words found in the essay are:
VI Pain, III Materialist, II Theory, World B, York Oxford, Martian Nonrigiditylogical, causal role, IV Nonrigidty, pain mental, = neural, pain = neural, common martian, pain madman, = pain, role pain, sense pain, pain occupying, pain =, causal role pain, pain occupying causal, pain mental =, role pain occupying,
Approximate Word count = 564
Approximate Pages = 2 (250 words per page)

More Essays on Theories of Mind and Pain