General Philosophy 6.4 Making Sense of Perception
Nov 30, 2010
Dive into the fascinating world of perception, where philosophical giants like Locke and Hume come alive. Explore the intriguing divide between our sensory experiences and the tangible reality that lies beyond. Delve into phenomenalism, which suggests that objects are mere logical constructs from our sense data. The debate between direct and indirect realism adds another layer, challenging how we grasp the relationship between our perceptions and the external world. Get ready for a mind-bending journey into the nature of reality!
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The Unacceptable Interpretation Problem
- Indirect realism claims we perceive objects via ideas in our mind, causing the "veil of perception" problem.
- The "unacceptable interpretation" wrongly imagines a homunculus seeing ideas, which explains nothing.
Why We Don't See Upside-Down Images
- The retina produces an upside-down image of the tree, but we do not perceive the tree as upside down.
- This is not puzzling unless trapped by the unacceptable interpretation expecting the image to be consciously "seen" upside-down.
The Skepticism of Perception
- We are directly aware only of perceptions or sense data, never the external objects themselves.
- This raises skepticism about how we can justify belief in objects beyond our perceptions.