Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
eliminativism
noun
/ɪˌlɪmɪˈneɪtɪvɪzəm/
Definition
The philosophical position that certain classes of mental states, such as beliefs and desires, do not exist as we commonly understand them, and thus should be eliminated from our theories about the mind.
Examples
- Eliminativism challenges traditional views of the mind by suggesting that many of our mental concepts are outdated.
- The philosopher was a proponent of eliminativism, believing that neuroscience would ultimately replace the need for discussing beliefs and desires.
- Critics of eliminativism argue that it overlooks the qualitative aspects of human experience that are not easily reduced to scientific terms.
Meaning
Eliminativism argues that what we perceive as mental phenomena are either nonexistent or should be replaced with a more scientific understanding.
Synonyms
- Materialism
- Physicalism
- Reductionism
