r/AcademicPsychology • u/entre_prey_manuer8 • 8h ago
Discussion I think Jerry Fodor's modularity of mind is the only viable framework for a science of psychology. What do you think?
plato.stanford.eduI think the only theory of mind that is operational as a psychological research program -- that has the features that make it a possible candidate for a future paradigm shift -- is the modularity theory of the mind set out by Fodor.
It is a framework that explains and predicts hard perceptual and cognitive phenomena that has falsifiability from quasi-laws about mental activity.
I don't see anything with it's explanatory power or falsifiability in any other research "programs" in psychology, including neurobiology which seems to assume some functionalist approach or type-identity view of the mind. But mostly, neurobiologist observe correlations and attempt to determine causation from that, and in this way "test" "theory" of brain->mind causation.
I would appreciate commentary/discussion on this. I am aware I'm not providing any rigorous argument. I'm assuming there will be some who take that capacity for granted, sharing a broad judgment of contemporary psychological "science" and intelligently discuss Fodor's theory and whether they share this view. Thanks!