Multiple Realizability Revisited: Linking Cognitive and Neural States

Bechtel, William; Mundale, Jennifer

doi:10.1086/392683

Cited by 483Philosophy and Theoretical SciencePhilosophy and History of ScienceEmbodied and Extended Cognition

Multiple Realizability Revisited: Linking Cognitive and Neural States

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Bechtel, William, Mundale, Jennifer·1999·Philosophy of Science

DOI 10.1086/392683

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Abstract

The contention that psychological states are multiply realizable in different substrates has been used to support the contention that neuroscience is not likely to be very useful in guiding an understanding how cognition works. But in the context of scientific research, how seriously should we really take this threat of multiple realizability? By examining how brain areas are identified in neuroscience (where the approach is comparative and employs functional criteria), we show that the skepticism about neuroscience's role in understanding cognition is misguided and that the apparent success of multiple realizability is based on methodological error. With respect to the former point, we develop and analyze a representative case in which the organization of the brain provides crucial information about the organization of the cognitive system. Then we show that the initial plausibility of claims to multiple realizability rest on (a) mismatching a broad-grained criterion (to show sameness of psychological states) with a finegrained criterion (to differentiate brain states), and (b) a failure to attend to the purposes for which taxonomies of brain and psychological states are developed.

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Any function can be implemented by different physical systems.
“It is well known that any function can be implemented by di ff erent physical systems (Bechtel & Mundale, 1999; Fodor, 1974).”
From Hard criteria for empirical theories of consciousness (2021) · cites this paper as Bechtel & Mundale, 1999

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Authors: Bechtel, W., & Mundale, J.
Affiliations: Washington University in St. Louis (US)
University of Central Florida (US)
ORCID: Bechtel, William
Mundale, Jennifer
Venue: Philosophy of Science
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Published: 1999-06
Volume: 66
Issue: 2
Pages: 175-207
ISSN: 0031-8248 (ISSN-L)
1539-767X
DOI: 10.1086/392683
OpenAlex: W2048737476
Cited by: 483
References: 54
Citations by year: 2026: 21 · 2025: 24 · 2024: 38 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 17 · 2021: 21 · 2020: 31 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 26 · 2017: 12 · 2016: 15 · 2015: 15 · 2014: 18 · 2013: 25 · 2012: 12
FWCI: 8.57
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: green
stars.library.ucf.edu
Licence: www.cambridge.org/core/terms (unspecified, 8340 d)
Locations: Philosophy of Science (publishedVersion)
Journal of International Crisis and Risk Communication Research (submittedVersion)
Topics: Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Philosophy and Theoretical Science
Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › History and Philosophy of Science › Philosophy and History of Science
Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Embodied and Extended Cognition
Keywords: multiple realizability, cognitive neuroscience, brain states, psychological state, functional criteria, brain organization, methodological errors, philosophy of mind

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Multiple Realizability Revisited: Linking Cognitive and Neural States

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