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Multiple Realizability, Constraints, and Identity
Author(s) -
Bauer Mark
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
pacific philosophical quarterly
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.914
H-Index - 32
eISSN - 1468-0114
pISSN - 0279-0750
DOI - 10.1111/papq.12008
Subject(s) - realizability , autonomy , empirical research , epistemology , identity (music) , empirical evidence , psychology , social psychology , philosophy , computer science , political science , law , algorithm , aesthetics
Abstract Shapiro has suggested that the empirical plausibility of the multiple realizability of human‐like minds is dubious, because a contrary thesis, the M ental C onstraint T hesis, enjoys positive empirical evidence. The M ental C onstraint T hesis states that, given the actual physical laws, there is only one way to realize a human‐like mind. I will suggest, however, that the M ental C onstraint T hesis is not a contrary to the empirical multiple realizability thesis relevant to psychological reduction or autonomy and, as a consequence, has no bearing on those classificatory issues.