The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast Ep. 276: Hegel on Perception (Part One)
Aug 16, 2021
Dive into Hegel's philosophical labyrinth as the hosts unravel the intricacies of perception and consciousness. They dissect sense certainty, questioning whether immediate sensory experiences can stand alone without universal concepts. Personal anecdotes bring humor to the complex ideas, while discussions on the evolution of consciousness challenge traditional notions of knowledge. Listen as they explore the relationship between experience and language, unveiling the limitations of direct perception and our understanding of selfhood in the process.
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Hegel's Dialectic of Knowing
- Hegel's analysis of knowledge progresses through 'shapes of consciousness' highlighting the failure of immediate sense certainty and perception.
- Sense certainty fails because it cannot escape universality, showing no non-conceptual knowing exists.
No Bare Particulars Exist
- Sense certainty assumes the object is essential and 'just there' whether observed or not.
- However, Hegel shows that what we consider immediate reference like "this" always involves universals and mediation, undermining immediacy.
Universals Mediate Perception
- The act of pointing or naming something always involves universal concepts like "this", "now", and "here".
- These universals mediate perception, showing no direct, unmediated sensory access is possible.
