Direct realism

Question 1

Define perception.

Answer 1

The process by which we become aware of physical objects, including our own bodies

Question 2

Define realism.

Answer 2

The claim that perceptions are caused by the real external world, which exists independently of our minds.

Question 3

What is the ‘object of perception’.

Answer 3

The thing that a person is aware of.

Question 4

What is direct realism? (4 points)

Answer 4

The idea that our perceptions are:
-mind independent 
-unmediated
-accurate
-consistent with other's 
It is a two part theory featuring a perceiver and an object of perception.

Question 5

What are the four objections to direct realism?

Answer 5

Perceptual variation, illusion, hallucination and time lag.

Question 6

What is the argument from ‘perceptual variation’?

Answer 6

1- The objects we are aware of change according to perspective and light
2- The real objects do not change
3- We are not aware of the real objects
4- Direct realism is false

Question 7

Who proposed perceptual variation?

Answer 7

Russell

Question 8

What is the argument from illusion?

Answer 8

1- In illusion we perceive property F
2- Property F does not exist in the real world
3- Our perception of F is mind dependent and doesn’t represent reality
4- Our perceptions are not always mind independent and accurate
5- Direct realism is false

Question 9

Define ‘illusion’

Answer 9

A perception that does not accurately represent reality, or deceives our senses.

Question 10

What is the argument from hallucination?

Answer 10

1- In perception we are aware of objects
2- In hallucination we are aware of a mind dependent image
3- There is no distinguishing between veridical perception and hallucination
4- Our perceptions are not always veridical
5- Direct realism is false

Question 11

What is the time lag argument?

Answer 11

The speed of light is not infinitely fast.
When we perceive light, there is a delay between it reflecting off the object of perception and entering our eyes. Therefore we can never perceive something exactly as it is in a specific moment.

Question 12

What is naive realism?

Answer 12

The version of direct realism employed by those who have not considered any theories of perception.

Question 13

Give a response to the argument from perceptual variation.

Answer 13

Direct realism claims that what we perceive are physical objects, but it doesn’t have to claim that all our perceptions are mind independent. An object can have the property of looking a certain way relationally, without being a certain way.
We can also gain a consistent idea of an object by viewing it from different perspectives.

Question 14

Give a response to the argument from illusion.

Answer 14

Once again, the object can have the property of looking like property F without having property F

Question 15

Give a response to time lag.

Answer 15

We can perceive things accurately without perceiving them immediately. We can consider light to be a part of they way we perceive things, and therefore that delay is as much a part of reality as the objects.
Also time lag only effects sound and vision.

Question 16

Why is direct realism an appealing theory to some people.

Answer 16

It adheres to common sense- we have a natural instinct to presume that our perceptions a simply the result of the world around us. Additionally it avoids the issues of solipsism and skepticism that indirect and idealist theories face.

Question 17

How does science present a problem for our direct experience of colour or souns.

Answer 17

Science dictates that light and sound are a result of waves moving through surrounding mediums to our eyes and ears. This suggests that there is no real colour or sound to be directly experienced, but merely an interpretation of oscillating particles.

Question 18

Define mind-independence.

Answer 18

The idea that an object continues to exist in the same way, regardless of whether it is being perceived or not.