Functionalism And Thoughts On Developing Marxist Theory Of Consciousness

Mind-body problem is a hot and difficult problem in contemporary western philosophy of mind. Functionalism receives wide agreement in the current discussion of mind-body problem, many people consider that functionalism give a more reasonable explanation for mind-body problem. Functionalists think that mental states play a causal role between subject's sense stimulus and following actions, mental property is identical with functional property, but different from physical property. The main aim of this article is to put Marxist theory of consciousness forward by using the positive result of how functionalism resolves mind-body problem, at the same time, the author makes an all-round introduction about functionalism. Marxist theory of consciousness is one important part of Marxist philosophy, in the field of philosophy in our country, other parts of Marxist philosophy have made rapid progress, but the research of Marxist theory of consciousness is obviously left behind. Owing to the low level of science in the times of Marx and Engels, they displayed many important opinions about the problem of consciousness, but in some details of that problem, they could not illustrate their opinions explicitly. What we are facing is to keep pace with the progress of contemporary nature science and new achievements in scientific research. On the one hand, we must prove that Marxist theory of consciousness is right by using the progress of science, on the other hand, we must make Marxist theory of consciousness more explicit and scientific.This article has five sections. In the first section, the author presents some theories about mind-body problem, including dualism, behaviorism, identity theory, and displays the difficulties that these theories face. In the second section, the author discusses the scientific and philosophical base of functionalism and its fundamental view, puts the focus on the concept of multiple realization and the view of how functionalism resolves mind-body problem, and makes the readers knowfunctionalists' opinions about what is mental state and what is the relation between mind and body. In the third section, the author discusses different functionalism types, including David Lewis's commonsense functionalism, machine functionalism, homuncular functionalism and teleological functionalism. The author analyses two concepts, Ramsey sentence and Turing machine, which are important for functionalism, and explains the view of functionalism by using both concepts. In the fourth section, the author displays many difficulties functionalism faces. Functionalism has great influence on how to resolve mind-body problem and many people support functionalist's way, but when facing internationality, qualia and input-output problem, functionalism has so many difficulties. In the final section, the author discusses that functionalism has some enlightens which are useful for developing Marxist theory of consciousness. Functionalist insists on anti-reduction of mental states and reaction of consciousness, it is very important for us to deepen and develop Marxist theory of consciousness. Functionalist's view about mind-body problem also expands the theory of origin of consciousness. From the beginning, functionalism faces many theory difficulties, but these difficulties lead us to know how to develop Marxist theory of consciousness. Functionalism and Marxist theory of consciousness share the same opinion to some extent, so Marxist theory of consciousness will be encountered many difficulties which functionalism faces, how to reply these challenges will be a new task for Marxist theory of consciousness.