Interpretivism and mental fictionalism

Abstract

This chapter compares mental fictionalism with one specific version of interpretivism: the ascription theory. The ascription theory conceives of the possession of mental states in terms of their canonical ascribability. A canonical ascription is an ascription of a mental state that meets two conditions: it approximates maximal coherence with the evidence and it would not require revision if it were actually made. It is argued that the ascription theory is not a brand of fictionalism and that, insofar mental fictionalism and interpretivism can be regarded as competing positions, the ascription theory is better placed to explain the possibility of particular mental state ascriptions and the utility of folk psychology.

Topics & Concepts