10 MARKER 2 Flashcards
1
Q
What is the question
A
1 (a) Explain the questions raised by Russell in his analysis of the nature of the real table. [10]
2
Q
How many paragraphs
A
3
3
Q
main outline
A
1 - situation in relation to Descartes, hyperbolic doubt
2 - intrinsic or perceived qualities, Locke
3 - indirect realism, veil of perception, real table nature
4
Q
1
A
- This paragraphs directly follows Russell’s second chapter, in which he puts forward his own argument for why one should believe in the existence of the external world, including that of the table, in response to the global scepticism of Descartes.
- He does, however, raise the question of how it can be known certainly that all of our sense experience does not correspond to any of the physical objects inferred from them- that the entire outer world is a dream, and we alone exist,
- as he admits he moves on from the problem “without being able to find demonstrative reasons” to counteract this doubt.
- Indeed, Russell implicitly raises the question of whether hyperbolic doubt can be demonstratively disproven at all, as he highlights in the last chapter that no logical absurdity arises from the idea that all experience is a dream,
- and that the most he can offer is a hypothesis that he considers “rational”, as the everyday view that there is an external world is far simpler and aligned with “instinctive belief”, though it is not without the possibility of error.
5
Q
2
A
- Russell moreover raises multiple questions regarding the nature of the relationship between the appearance of the table, and the nature of the real table itself, stating, “I assume there is something else, of which these things are appearances”.
- Here, Russell raises the issue of whether there is a real table with intrinsic qualities (the “something else”) which are different to the perceived qualities (the “appearances”).
- This concern is illustrated by Locke’s thesis, that objects possess ‘primary qualities’, such as shape, size or position, which are not at all dependant on the perceiver, and have the power to cause sense-data of ‘secondary qualities’, such as colour, sound and taste, which are dependant on the perceiver.
- Indeed, Russell underscores the dependence of such ‘secondary qualities’ on the perceiver, pointing out that “the colour ceases to exist if I close my eyes”, which seems to suggest that the colour Russell perceives is not an intrinsic quality of the table.
6
Q
3
A
- Indeed, this suggestion that the immediate objects of awareness are not physical objects but sense-data aligns Russell with the position of the indirect realist, a stance which he has already asserted in the previous chapter.
- Accordingly, Russell goes on to discuss a key issue invoked by indirect realism, ‘the veil of perception’; the matter that, as a result of the assertion that one only ever has access to sense-data, it is seemingly impossible to know even anything about the ‘real world’ or the “real table”.
- Russell underscores that the ‘problem’ or ‘veil’ of perception raises multiple questions, firstly whether the “real table” can be known to exist at all when “all these sense-data” corresponding to the “table “cease”.
- (It should be mentioned that Russell has already declared that he feels secure in his assumption that sense-data at least “correspond” to a real object, and so he can know that the “real table” does exist as long as he perceives sense-data of it.)
- Russell secondly highlights that the veil of perception raises the question, “What is the nature of this real table”, as all of his knowledge of the table seems to be confined to the intermediary realm of sense-data,
- and even goes on to argue in this chapter that nothing about the “nature of this real table” can be known beyond “what is required in order to secure correspondence”.
7
Q
How many in 1
A
1 - situation in relation to Descartes, hyperbolic doubt
5
8
Q
How many in 2
A
2 - intrinsic or perceived qualities
4
9
Q
How many in 3
A
3 - indirect realism, veil of perception, real table nature
6
