Direct realism Flashcards
Give a definition of direct realism
When we perceive the world there is no mediator between the object and the perceiver. This means that objects are mind independent.
What does direct realism therefore reject?
Sense data. We perceive things immediately and are directly aware of the objects themselves.
Objects are mind independent, what else is mind independent?
Properties of objects, e.g. when we close our eyes a banana would continue to be yellow.
What is the first supporting factor for direct realism?
It is instinctively true. Russel says that if a theory is consistently true we should agree with it.
What is the second supporting factor for direct realism?
It avoids scepticism. If direct realism is true I have knowledge because I am directly aware of its existence. No reason to doubt.
What is the third supporting factor for direct realism?
Explanatory power
Give component one of the third factor.
It EXPLAINS how I am able to interact with the world practically because my perception reveals reality, e.g. knowing where the road markings are in the road because I see them as they exist in reality.
Give component two of the third factor
It EXPLAINS why I perceive what I do. Perception is regular and predictable, e.g. if I see a tree one day I can expect it to look the same the next day because its properties are not reliant on my memory.
Give component three of the third factor
It EXPLAINS why we all agree on what we perceive. We occupy the same universe and see it objectively.
What is issue number 1 with indirect realism?
The argument from illusion.
Give the argument for issue number 1.
P1: An illusion when when an object only appears to have a particular property.
P2: The perceiver is directly aware of this apparent property.
P3: However, the object is different from perception in reality.
C1: However, the object is different from perception in reality.
C2: Therefore direct realism is false.
What response can we give to this?
When I am subject to illusion I am not directly aware of the physical object.
The illusion does not represent another reality.
Therefore the straw only appears bent because of circumstances.
This appearance is just the way it currently appears but light bending does not act as a mediator or sense-data.
What sassy thing does direct realism say about this?
HUnnnnyy… I never said that the objects would always appear how they are.
What kinda fancy thing does direct realism say to conclude the argument from an illusion?
Bitch! Indirect realists just seek to ‘reify appearances’ by positing the existence of the entity ‘sense data’. No one ever heard of her girl, I think you may have gone made her up.
What is the second issue with direct realism? Who is famous for positing this?
Perceptual variation. Bertrand Russel.
Which famous example does this philosopher come up with to illustrate this?
He uses the example of a brown table to say that a) colour changes depending on where light hits and b) it’s shape changes depending on where I stand.
Give a quote of what Russel says about this.
‘The real table… is not immediately known to us at all, but must be an inference from what is immediately known’
Give the argument for issue 2
P1: Direct realism claims that immediate objects of perception are actually the objects and their properties
P2: But when we perceive physical objects the appearance of properties can vary
P3: The properties of the objects themselves don’t vary.
C: So direct realism is false. Apparent properties are not the same as real properties
What is the third issue with direct realism?
Berkeley’s GODDAM bowl of water from his first dialogue
What does he say in his example?
You can put a cold hand in lukewarm water and the water will feel hot, if you put a hot hand in lukewarm water it will feel cold.
What is Berkeley’s argument?
P1: Direct realists claim that objects possess mind independent properties.
P2: But material objects are perceived to have incompatible properties, e.g. cold and hot properties of the same water at the same time.
P3: They cannot possess incompatible properties in reality (this would be contradictory).
C: Therefore direct realism is false. Material objects do not possess such qualities.
Give the response to Berkeley…
The direct realist can claim that objects can look different to perceivers and are nonetheless directly perceived.
Lukewarm water can appear cold to a perceiver but that doesnt mean it actually is.
It doesn’t mean that the property of the water is distinct from the water itself.
Give another response to Berkeley…
You Dumb. Hang on let me explain this.. ugh..so. It is a PROPERTY of lukewarm water that it will sometimes appear cold and sometimes appear hot depending on the temperature of the perceivers hand.
How can you relate this second Berkeley response to the Russel table?
A table would look different depending on where you stand but we don’t have any genuine disagreement on the shape of the table.
