direct realism Flashcards
1
Q
perception
A
processes, capacities, abilities or faculties by which we gain awareness of physical objects
2
Q
realism
A
the view that something exists independently of the mind. realism about perception is the view that the object of perception exist independently of the mind
3
Q
direct realism (naive realism)
A
in perception, we are directly viewing mind independent objects
4
Q
perceptual variation
(argument against direct realism)
A
- there are variations in perception
- our perception varies without corresponding changes in the physical objects we perceive
- therefore, the properties the physical objects have and the properties they appear to have are not the same
- therefore, what we are immediately aware of in perception is not exactly the same as what exists independently of the mind
- therefore, we do not perceive physical objects directly
5
Q
response to perceptual variation
A
- it does not follow from the fact an object does not always appear as it really is, that it is not the object itself that is appearing to us
- we often do privilege certain appearances and circumstances, showing that some appearances are presenting the object as it really is
- eg the way the table appear to me, isn’t alway the way it is; we believe the table is rectangular even though it can appear to be other shapes from different angles
- this shows that direct realists need to distinguish between relational and non relational properties
6
Q
relational properties
A
- properties that describe how one object relates to another
- eg ollie is the tallest person in the room
7
Q
non relational properties
A
- properties that describe how an object is in itself
- eg ollie is 6 foot 3
8
Q
illusion (argument against direct realism)
A
- when we perceive something as having property F, there is something that is F
- in an illusion, the physical object does not have property F
- therefore, in illusions, what has property F is something mental (and mental objects are mind dependent)
- illusions can be indistinguishable from veridical perceptions
- therefore, we see the same thing in illusions and veridical perceptions
- therefore, the immediate object of perception is mental and not physical
- therefore, direct realism is fake
9
Q
response to the illusion argument
A
- eg a straw is water appear bent but we a still perceiving the straw which is straight
- the straw (property f) has the relational property of appearing bent because of the properties of the straw and the circumstances in which we perceive it
10
Q
hallucination (arguments against direct realism)
A
- when we perceive something as having property F, there is something that is F
- in a hallucination, we don’t perceive a physical object at all
- therefore, in a hallucination, what has property F is something mental
- hallucinations can be indistinguishable from veridical perceptions
- therefore, we see the same thing in hallucinations and veridical perceptions
- therefore, the immediate object of perception is mental and not physical
11
Q
response to the hallucination argument
A
- relational properties can’t help to explain hallucinations as you are not standing in relation to anything physical
- disjunctivism: hallucinations and veridical experiences are two completely different kinds of mental states. one is perceiving a physical object, the other is only appearing to perceive. we can’t tell the difference between them, but the does not mean they are the same
12
Q
time lag argument (argument against direct realism)
A
- when we perceive something as having property F, there is something that is F
- due to time lag, the physical object we are perceiving may not exist
- what are perceiving does exist
- therefore, the immediate object of perception is mental not physical
13
Q
response to the time lag argument
A
- the direct realist can accept that we see objects as they were not as they are
- we literally see the past
