proper functionalism

Proper functionalism is a view in philosophy of mind that suggests mental states are defined by their roles or functions within a system. Instead of being tied to specific physical substances, like brains or nerves, mental states are identified by what they do—such as processes that process information, cause behaviors, or relate to other mental states. For example, feeling pain is understood by its function: it's a mental state that motivates a person to withdraw from harmful stimuli. This perspective emphasizes the importance of causal relationships and interactions in understanding mental phenomena across different physical substrates.