Epistemology - Direct And Indirect Realism Flashcards
What is a mind-dependent object?
An object that requires and depends on a mind for existence or definition
What is a mind-independent object?
Something that does not require a mind for existence or definition; it can exist on its own accord.
What is direct realism?
The idea/theory that our senses allow us to perceive objects unmediated.
What does a direct realist believe?
Physical objects are mind-independent and independent of our perception.
We perceive objects and their properties unmediated.
What are the 3 problems for direct realism?
Illusions
Hallucinations
Time-lag
Explain the problem of illusion (direct realism)
We cannot distinguish between that which is as it is perceived and that which is not (direct)
Explain the problem of hallucinations (direct realism)
We cannot distinguish between that which is real and that which is not if we perceive it all directly.
Explain the problem of time-lag (direct realism)
We can;t be seeing things directly if they have happened in the past e.g, stars
What is indirect realism?
The theory/idea that we perceive mind-independent objects, however we do not see the physical object we perceive the ‘idea’ of that object; this is what we call sense data.
Indirect realism suggests we perceive these objects but they are all mediated.
What are primary qualities according to Locke?
Qualities found ‘in and within’ the object itself.
These are the qualities the object has independently of whether we perceive them or not. E.g, size, mass etc
What are secondary qualities according to Locke?
Qualities which aren’t in the object themselves but they have the ‘power’ to produce these qualities in our minds when perceived.
They are powers an object has to produce sensations e.g, colour, sound, taste etc.
How does Locke say we can distinguish between primary and secondary qualities?
Primary qualities are
-> Measurable, essential
Without PQ it could not be the object and PQ are accessible to more than one sense
Secondary qualities only access one sense.
What is Russell’s sense-data?
Russell calls the mental images, smells, sensations etc ‘sense-data’ instead of Locke’s term ‘ideas’.
What did Russell say we use to create our ‘sense-data’?
Russell aid that we use our physical organs to gain information about an object, the external world and our brain produces this ‘sense-data’
What does Russell believe we perceive DIRECTLY?
Sense-data not the object themselves.
What is Locke’s voluntary vs. Involuntary argument?
Locke said we cannot change ‘real’ objects using our mind as they are mind-dependent, however
You can change your imagination therefore proving the existence of mind-independent objects.
What did Trotter-Cockburn say we have to use to prove the existence of mind-independent ‘real’ objects?
She said that we perceive an object and we can use all of our senses; touch taste smell sight - if these line up then the object must exist.
Hallucinations and illusions only trick one sense.
What is Russell’s best hypothesis?
Russell believed that we perceive objects indirectly so we cannot say if they are real fo false, we simply have to accept the best hypothesis.
We cannot prove that there is a mind-independent reality, but we also can’t prove that there isn’t.
