Super-Spartans

Behaviourism asserts that mental states are reducible to patterns of behaviour.

Super-Spartans are imaginary beings whose mental states are identical to our own, but who lack the behavioural dispositions that we have. Stamp on the foot of a Super-Spartan, and though he will feel pain he will have no disposition to cry out.

Behaviourism must say that Super-Spartans are impossible, but this seems to be incorrect. The possibility of Super-Spartans thus appears to refute behaviourism.

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