Paul M. Churchland's essay, “Eliminative Materialism”, does an excellent and clear job in solidifying the theory of eliminative materialism, over identity theory. Although both are forms of physicalism, as both theories believe that mental and physical are so intertwined that they are the same. Identity theory believes that our understanding of theoretical neuroscience is relatively right, so it only requires a reduction; while the eliminativist believes it is so flawed it will be completely replaced. In this paper, I am going to display the strength of Churchland's arguments for eliminative materialism, specifically how he acknowledges the criticism. His argument plausibility becomes undoubted as he responds to the objections against his arguments as well as the theory altogether.…show more content… He does not believe this neat match-up will occur, but rather we will tear down our foundations of understanding for a more accurate system of understanding. Churchland says, "...when neuroscience has matured to the point where the poverty of our current conceptions is apparent...we shall then be able to set about reconceiving our internal states activities, within a truly adequate conceptual framework..."(278) To help us understands Churchlands perspective of not trusting folk psychology framework the first section of the essay is dedicated to showing that historical folk theories were false and plagued with misconceptions and generalizations, that were believed without question. Still, Identity theory affirms that folk psychology framework only requires reduction and modification. To this Churchland disagrees, "On this view, folk psychology is not just an incomplete representation of our inner natures; it is an outright misrepresentation of our internal states and activities." (277) It is, for this reason, he suggests eliminative materialism and criticizes identity
