3.1.2 PERCEPTION AS A SOURCE OF KNOWLEDGE - DIRECT REALISM Flashcards
This A level philosophy topic looks at 3 theories of perception that explain how we can acquire knowledge from experience, i.e. a posteriori. They are: Direct Realism Indirect Realism Idealism The theories disagree over such issues as whether the external world exists (realism vs. anti-realism) and the way we perceive it (direct vs. indirect). Each theory also has various arguments for and against.
DIRECT REALISM
The immediate objects of perception are mind-independent objects and their properties. in other words, the external world exists independently of the mind (hence, realism)
And we perceive the external world directly (hence, direct)
EXPLAIN THE ARGUMENT FROM ILLUSIONS
direct realism says that we perceive the external world directly as it is.
But if this is true, how is it that reality (i.e. the external world) can be different to our perception of it?
For example, when a pencil is placed in a glass of water, it can look crooked. But it isn’t really crooked.
If direct realism is true, the external world would be exactly as we perceive it. However, in the case of illusions, there is an obvious difference between our perception and reality.
OUTLINE THE ARGUMENT FROM ILLUSIONS FORMALLY
P1) During illusions it appears to you that something is F
C1) Therefore, we immediately perceive something that is F
P2) There is no mind independent object that is F
C2) During illusions, the thing that you immediately perceive is not mind independent
C3) During illusions the thing that you immediately perceive is mind dependent
C4) Direct realism is false
