Eliminative materialism

In the philosophy of mind, eliminative materialism is the most radical form of materialism (physicalism).

Eliminative materialists believe that consciousness does not exist except as an epiphenomenon of brain function and some believe that the concept will eventually be eliminated as neuroscience progresses.

Eliminative materialism claims that folk psychology will be replaced with real science. Examples of other eliminations of concepts from science are: phlogiston, ether, animal spirits, the planet Vulcanus, animal magnetism, witchcraft and alchemy.

According to Quine, it will take tens of years before folk psychology will be replaced with real science.