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Trying To Put One Label on Two Ideas: Functionalism’s Failure as a Monist Theory Functionalism is defined as an inherently monist theory of the mind. Functionalism rejects classic dualism due to the interaction problem (Pojman 1998). Functionalists believe that we will be able to understand the brain on the nature of the theoretical interface between neuroscience and psychology (Churchland). Pojman says that functionalism is the “heir to behaviourism”. Pojman also states that behaviourists either deny …

…tries to solve the interaction problem by claiming the interaction of these two states is done through an algorithmic system of computational processes. The functionalist tries to adhere to a doctrine of a physical brain state supported by mental events. The idea of a sole physical entity is a monist idea. Functionalists fall out of this category because they accept the existence and importance of mental events and suggest a causal relationship through computational interaction.