Abstract

In this paper, I aim to reveal and examine the ideology behind functionalism. To this aim, first I will shortly describe the features of a Platonic metaphysics. Then I will attempt to show that there is a hidden Platonic ideology behind functionalism. This ideology is often manifested with the “software-hardware” dichotomy. In the end of this paper, I will argue for the claim that the software-hardware dichotomy is only a pragmatic distinction, and it should not be taken to imply metaphysically exclusive categories.