Functionalism, Identity Theory & Computational Models of Mind
Folk Psychology
Folk psychology explains the behavior of agents based on their mental states. It is the common-sense framework used to understand and predict behavior. Fodor defends folk psychology, offering reasons such as:
- It is highly successful in predicting behavior based on attributed intentions, beliefs, and desires.
- It explains how beliefs and desires interact causally to produce behavior.
- It posits that behavior results from a causal chain of mental events.
Turing Machines Explained
A Turing
Read MorePolice Procedures for Assisting Vulnerable Seniors
Local Police Assistance for the Elderly
Local police are often required to intervene in situations where elderly individuals make complaints about neighborhood annoyances that patrols cannot verify or find to be unfounded. Sometimes, these claims stem from underlying issues like depression or lack of communication. The elderly person may simply desire conversation due to anxiety or insomnia. Requests for help due to occasional accidents, deaths from natural causes in homes, and suicides are also
Read MoreBelgium’s Political System: Societal Fractures & Elections
Belgian Political Culture and System
Belgium is a segmented society characterized by three main fractures:
- Religious: Separating Catholics and freethinkers. Since the 1950s, this fracture has diminished in importance due to secularization.
- Socio-economic: The class divide, originating from conflicts during the Industrial Revolution (labor-capital conflict).
- Ethno-linguistic: Separating Flanders and Wallonia. This has been the most influential fracture conditioning Belgian politics in recent decades.
Understanding Social Interaction and Qualitative Research
Social interaction is not haphazard but structured, occurring in context and making sense of meanings. It refers to daily routines, events, and objects perceived as relevant and meaningful. Interaction is built through the interaction of the protagonists.
Structuralism
Structuralist approaches incorporate cultural frameworks of social achievements and subjective reality. Cultural systems of meanings are part of perception, subjective reality construction, and social development. They distinguish between
Read MoreUnderstanding Social Stratification: Hierarchy, Inequality, and Conflict
Understanding Social Stratification
Inter-action: Social stratification is organized into levels and is related to inequality. (Greece-Rome slavery existed). (Medieval age serfs existed). (The enlightened eighteenth century spoke of inequality). (S. XIX class called social).
Inequality and Hierarchy
Inequality: The inequality that matters is the hierarchy and is based on relations of superiority and inferiority, and are based on complementarity: it needs supplementing and diversity. Individuals are
Read MoreHistorical School: Genesis and Evolution of Education
Genesis and Evolution of the Historical School
The institution is an educational and social construct, resulting from the relationships between various social agents and groups throughout history.
Educational systems, as state networks, have not always existed. Before, schools or means of learning had very limited coverage.
The characteristics of state networks emerged in response to the needs of differential socialization arising with the liberal-democratic and industrial revolutions. Therefore, origins
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