Create a “ridiculously simple theory” for one of these mental states (just one): panic, stress, insecurity, or excitement. Your theory should be similar to the theory of pain that’s given on p. 25. Why is this a functionalist theory for that mental state? On the bottom of p. 22, Appiah says, “One reason for being a functionalist is, thus, that it allows you to deny the Cartesian claim that minds are essentially private, that only you can know what is going on inside your mind.” If beliefs, desires, and sensations are inside our heads, then how can the functionalist claim that they are not private? For instance, isn’t the mental state in your ridiculously simple theory (panic, stress, insecurity, or excitement) private–one that only the person experiencing it knows about? (Use your theory to answer this question.) Turn your ridiculously simply theory into a Ramsey sentence (and explain how this transformation is done). What is the benefit of creating a Ramsey sentence? Some other instructions. Your ridiculously simple theory should include at least one other mental state besides the one you picked from the list (and this other mental state shouldn’t be from the list). Do not worry about making the theory accurate or complete. That’s not going to be possible since it is ridiculously simply. Just make sure that it is the right kind of theory–a functionalist theory like the one given on p. 25.
