funktsioneerimist

Funktsioneerimist (functionalism) is a theoretical stance in the philosophy of mind and the social sciences that explains phenomena by their functions within a system rather than by their internal constitution. In the philosophy of mind, functionalism holds that mental states are defined by their causal roles: the inputs they receive, the outputs they produce, and their relations to other mental states. Because functions can be realized in different physical substrates, the same mental state may be implemented in various brains or machines.

Originating in the mid-20th century with philosophers such as Hilary Putnam and Jerry Fodor, functionalism has shaped cognitive science and artificial intelligence. A central claim is multiple realizability: the same mental state can be instantiated by different physical patterns. In sociology, functionalism analyzes how social institutions contribute to the stability and functioning of a system, emphasizing their roles rather than their origins.

Critics argue that functionalism may overlook subjective experience (qualia) and mental content. The causal-exclusion problem questions whether mental states can retain causal power if they are fully accounted for by brain processes. Some objections cite cases like inverted spectra or knowledge-like states that resist purely functional accounts. Despite these criticisms, functionalism remains influential in philosophy and cognitive science.

The approach informs computational modeling, AI design, and comparative cognition, and has inspired sociological theory about the function of social practices. In Estonian academic discourse, funktsioneerimist is discussed as part of the broader functionalist tradition.