Functionalism
Form follows function
Functionalism is a framework emphasizing purpose and practical effect over form or structure.
In philosophy of mind, functionalism holds that mental states are defined by what they do—their causal relationships—rather than what they're made of.
In sociology, functionalism views social institutions as serving necessary roles in maintaining stability.
In architecture and design, functionalism prioritizes utility: The building's functionalism left no room for ornament.
The common thread is judging things by how they work rather than what they look like or what they're composed of.
Founding French sociologist
- social structurePatterned relationships in society
- equilibriumState of balance
- institutionsEstablished organizations or practices
- normsExpected behavioral standards
integration · solidarity · stability · interdependence · cohesion · roles · collective consciousness · socialization
Psychological conditions of awareness
- PutnamHistoric publishing imprint
- computationMathematical processing work
- physicalismAll is matter
- mind-bodyMental-physical relationship
cognitive science · realization · inputs · outputs · beliefs · desires · Turing · consciousness
Irish-origin surname
- BauhausInfluential modernist design school
- modernismFavoring contemporary approaches
- utilityFunctional worth or purpose
- practicalityQuality of being useful
efficiency · ornament · simplicity · industrial design · skyscraper · rationalism · minimalism · purpose-built
Traditional masculine name
- consciousnessState of sentient awareness
- pragmatismPractical problem-solving philosophy
- adaptationFitting to new conditions
- purposeReason something exists
mental processes · behavior · Dewey · evolutionary · survival · practical application · learning · habits
Structuralist linguistic movement
- systemicAffecting an entire structure
- discourseFormal communication on subjects
- pragmaticsLanguage-in-context study
- registerRecord officially; vocal range
genre · ideational · interpersonal · textual · context · phonology · distinctive features
Durkheim
Founding French sociologist
- social structurePatterned relationships in society
- equilibriumState of balance
- institutionsEstablished organizations or practices
norms · integration · solidarity · stability · interdependence · cohesion · roles · collective consciousness · socialization · consensus
mental states
Psychological conditions of awareness
- PutnamHistoric publishing imprint
- computationMathematical processing work
- physicalismAll is matter
mind-body · cognitive science · realization · inputs · outputs · beliefs · desires · Turing · consciousness · intentionality
Sullivan
Irish-origin surname
- BauhausInfluential modernist design school
- modernismFavoring contemporary approaches
- utilityFunctional worth or purpose
practicality · efficiency · ornament · simplicity · industrial design · skyscraper · rationalism · minimalism · purpose-built · streamlined
James
Traditional masculine name
- consciousnessState of sentient awareness
- pragmatismPractical problem-solving philosophy
- adaptationFitting to new conditions
purpose · mental processes · behavior · Dewey · evolutionary · survival · practical application · learning · habits · stream of consciousness
Prague School
Structuralist linguistic movement
- systemicAffecting an entire structure
- discourseFormal communication on subjects
- pragmaticsLanguage-in-context study
register · genre · ideational · interpersonal · textual · context · phonology · distinctive features
- architecture stylesart deco, Art Nouveau, minimalism, modernism, Modernism
- Design HistoryArt Nouveau, Bauhaus, mid-century modern, Modernism, Postmodernism
- art movementsPop Art, pop art, Impressionism, impressionism, Surrealism
- design stylesart deco, Art Nouveau, art nouveau, Bauhaus, minimalism
- modern architectureBrutalism, glass facades, green roofs, mid-century modern, International Style
FunctionalismArt Nouveau
Curvilinear decorative movement, 1890s
Baroque · Rococo · ornamentation · Beaux-Arts · Victorian style
FunctionalismMarxism
Class-based revolutionary philosophy
critical theory · phenomenology · poststructuralism · individualism · existentialism
Functionalismstructuralism
Analysis through underlying systems
psychoanalysis · behaviorism · elementalism · associationism