functionalism

noun

• belief in or stress on the practical application of a thing, in particular.
• (in the arts) the doctrine that the design of an object should be determined solely by its function, rather than by aesthetic considerations, and that anything practically designed will be inherently beautiful.
• (in the social sciences) the theory that all aspects of a society serve a function and are necessary for the survival of that society.
• (in the philosophy of mind) the theory that mental states can be sufficiently defined by their cause, their effect on other mental states, and their effect on behavior.