Functional Description And Mind Computation

The theory of modularity of mind was proposed in the book "Modularity of mind" that wrote by fodor and printed in 1983, the theory has aroused great repercussions. Fodor’s module theory of mind from functionalism of mind to research human’s cognitive ability, through the function and found the of essence that implement the process of cognitive mechanism, and make further clarify cognition types, characteristics and psychological structure, frame etc.For Fodor, functionalism is not good at relying on ontology to solve the problems in mind, it is the causal relationship in the external world, and the relationship is shown in three aspects: the first aspect is the causal relationship between the state of mind and the inputtig that beyond the state of mind, the second aspect is the causal relationship between the state of mind and the outputting of the behavior, the third aspect is the causal relationship among the different state of mind. Functionalism through mathematical calculation and biology to describe the functional properties, this process must follow the language rule of logic mathematics. Significant parts of the mind, such as perceptual and linguistic processes, are structured in terms of modules, or "organs", which he defines by their causal and functional roles. These modules are relatively independent of each other and of the "central processing" part of the mind, which has a more global and less "domain specific" character. Fodor suggests that the character of these modules permits the possibility of causal relations with external objects. This, in turn, makes it possible for mental states to have contents that are about things in the world. The central processing part, on the other hand, takes care of the logical relations between the various contents and inputs and outputs.This paper consists of introduction and text, the introduction is briefly described the background, significance of module, and the present state of the research on this theory in abroad. According to the development process of Fodor’s thoughts process of formation and theoretical background of the module theory.This essay consists of four chapter. The first chapter teases the background of philosophy of mind, the path of functionalism and the development of module theory. Firstly, according to the development of western philosophy of mind as a starting point, discussing the origin and evolution of the modern western philosophy of mind, it also includes core problem and the background of linguistic turn of the psychology of mind. Secondly, to integrate the scientism tendency of the modern western philosophy of mind with Fodor’s thoughts on the philosophy of mind.The second chapter discuss the presupposition of the psychological structure of module of mind. The psychological structure would be characterize by four ways : that the structure of the mind viewed as the Etructure of knowledge of neocartesianism, mental structure as functional architecture of horizontal faculties, mental structure as functional architecture of vertical faculties, mental structure as functional architecture of associationism.The third chapter is the core part of this paper, this chapter discuss the presupposition of the cognitive mechanism of modules and cognitive system. It consists of a functional taxonomy of cognitive mechanisms, input system as modules and central system. Fodor argues that the cognitive system module plays a special role in mental activities of the body, so, what is the role of these functions? First of all, Fodor proposed to have a trichotomous functional taxonomy of psychological processes; a taxonomy which distinguishes transducers, input systems, and central processors. There are at least two kinds of system: module and Central nervous systems processing system. Typical function module of the system is analyzed the typical functions of input, central processing system is the belief of curing.The fourth chapter is the positioning of Fodor’s module theory in the philosophy of mind, including the evaluation, oppugnation, supplement and development of the modularity of mind. It combines Fodor’s module theory of mind with the theory of cognitive function, cognitive science, psychology and mental structure, and these theories have a great effect on the ideological circle.