Questions on Behaviourism

1. Do you think that the view Ryle calls 'the official doctrine' is the view most people in our society hold? Is there a good reason to distinguish between the 'outer' and the 'inner?'

2. How is the phrase 'there occur mental processes' supposed to be importantly different from the phrase 'there occur physical processes'?

3. Ryle gives some examples of what it is to make a category mistake. Can you construct your own examples of someone making a category mistake?

4. Imagine discovering a type of super smart squid in the oceans of Europa: could a behaviourist recognise the inner life of such a very alien species? Explain the problem first. (Note: Europa is a moon of Jupiter covered in ice but with a liquid water ocean which may be hundred of kilometres deep. Scientists believe conditions favourable to life may exist there.)