Work

Frogs recognize prey: a causal-behavioral teleosemantics

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: I propose a version of teleosemantics for simple animal representations that combines Millikan’s suggestion that they represent the most crucial “normal conditions” required for them to bring about their beneficial behavioral effects with Neander’s suggestion that they represent their “normal causes”. The content of a simple representation is the most crucial among the normal conditions responsible for its tokens having beneficial behavioral effects that also causes such tokens. I argue that this version delivers more plausible contents than other versions of teleosemantics. Frogs’ prey detectors represent the animals they prey on rather than nutritious or small moving things.

Source: Biology & Philosophy

DOI: 10.1007/s10539-024-09967-9

Author: Esteban Withrington

Institutions: Instituto de Investigaciones Filosóficas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México

Language: English

Topic: Philosophy and History of Science

Subfield: History and Philosophy of Science

Field: Arts and Humanities

Domain: Social Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,090

Funders: City University of New York, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México