Explaining how to perceive the new: causal-informational teleosemantics and productive response functions

Hundertmark, Fabian

doi:10.1007/s11229-019-02406-3

Cited by 4 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…Garson and Papineau (2019) recently develop the idea that we can explain novel contents by appealing to the workings of ontogenetic selection processes. Hundertmark (2021) explains novel contents in terms of the idea that natural selection selects for “complex,” rather than “simple,” dispositions. If anything, there are too many solutions to the problem of novel contents, rather than too few.…”

Section: Response To Angela Mendelovici and David Bourgetmentioning

confidence: 99%

Response to Neander's Critics

Garson

2022

Philos Phenomenol Research

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Section: Response To Angela Mendelovici and David Bourgetmentioning

confidence: 99%

Response to Neander's Critics

Garson

2022

Philos Phenomenol Research

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“…Other critics complain that standard teleosemantics makes mental contents epiphenomenal properties with no causal or explanatory powers (Saidel 2001; Polger 2004, 175; Bickhard 2007, 576; Bauer 2017, 161f.). Furthermore, some authors (Martínez 2013, 2016; Hundertmark 2021) aim to show that standard teleosemantics has difficulties explaining productivity—the ability of representational systems to represent new states of affairs. The scariest threat by far, however, is the so-called “Swampman.” Swampman is an imaginary creature with no history whatsoever.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Dilemma of Ahistorical Teleosemantics

Hundertmark¹

2023

Philos. sci.

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Teleosemantic theories aim to naturalize mental representation through the use of functions, typically based on past selection processes. However, the historical dependence of these theories has faced severe criticism, leading some philosophers to develop ahistorical alternatives. This paper presents a new dilemma for all ahistorical teleosemantic theories, focusing in particular on the theories proposed by Timothy Schroeder and Bence Nanay. These theories require certain dispositions in the producers or consumers of mental representations. But the appeal to dispositions puts the proponents in an undesirable position: mental content is either overly dependent on current circumstances or ultimately dependent on historical factors.

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Biological functions and dysfunctions: a selected dispositions approach

Hundertmark,

van den Bos

2024

Biol Philos

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Justin Garson has recently argued that proper functions are proximal activities of traits selected by phylogenetic or ontogenetic selection processes, and that traits are dysfunctional only if they cannot perform their proper functions for constitutional reasons. We partially agree with Garson, but reject the view that functions are proximal activities, as well as his account of dysfunctions. Instead, we propose our own theory that biological functions are selected dispositions and that a trait is dysfunctional in virtue of not having the dispositions for which it was selected. This account can explain both defects (or dysfunctions in Garson’s sense) and dysfunctions due to environmental factors. Moreover, it offers a neat way to explain the graduality of dysfunction.

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Explaining how to perceive the new: causal-informational teleosemantics and productive response functions

Cited by 4 publications

References 29 publications

Response to Neander's Critics

Response to Neander's Critics

The Dilemma of Ahistorical Teleosemantics

Biological functions and dysfunctions: a selected dispositions approach

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