LaCroix, Travis (2023) Autism and the Pseudoscience of Mind. [Preprint]
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LaCroix - Autism and the Pseudoscience of Mind - Preprint - 04 Dec 2023.pdf Download (378kB) | Preview |
Abstract
This paper critically examines the theory-of-mind-deficit explanation of autism—a cognitive explanation of autistic behaviour that has significantly influenced empirical research and philosophical discourse surrounding autism. However, the claim that autistics lack a theory of mind is false. Part of the purpose of this paper is to describe how. First, a theory-of-mind deficit is inadequate as an explanatory model. Second, prior research has demonstrated the empirical failures of experiments intended to measure theory-of-mind abilities. These facts together suggest that the science of theory of mind in the context of autism is bad science. I argue that it is pseudoscience. This view has important consequences for philosophers who uncritically invoke autism (qua theory-of-mind deficit) as a thought experiment.
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| Item Type: | Preprint | ||||||
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| Additional Information: | This article is part of the research project, "Philosophy on the Spectrum: The Philosophy of Autism and Autistic Philosophy", which is supported in part by funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council. | ||||||
| Keywords: | Autism, Theory of Mind, Pseudoscience, Demarcation, Neurodiversity, Double Empathy, Monotropism, Philosophy of Autism, Autistic Philosophy, Philosophy on the Spectrum | ||||||
| Subjects: | Specific Sciences > Psychology General Issues > Science and Society General Issues > Science and Policy General Issues > Science vs. Pseudoscience General Issues > Theory/Observation General Issues > Values In Science |
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| Depositing User: | Dr. Travis LaCroix | ||||||
| Date Deposited: | 06 Dec 2023 02:48 | ||||||
| Last Modified: | 06 Dec 2023 02:48 | ||||||
| Item ID: | 22817 | ||||||
| Subjects: | Specific Sciences > Psychology General Issues > Science and Society General Issues > Science and Policy General Issues > Science vs. Pseudoscience General Issues > Theory/Observation General Issues > Values In Science |
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| Date: | 4 December 2023 | ||||||
| URI: | https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/22817 |
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