Epistemology - theories of perception

Question 1

direct realism

Answer 1

common sense view that the objects one perceives are completely mind independent, they are perceived directly, existing objectively in space and time.

Question 2

issues for direct realism

Answer 2

perceptual variation - Russel, what we perceive is not the same as what is in reality
the issue of illusion
the issue of halucation
the time lag argument

Question 3

indirect realism

Answer 3

the objects of perception are a mind-dependent representation which is caused by external mind-independent physical objects. Sense-data is perceived directly whereas physical objects are perceived indirectly
representation can be different from the object it represents

Question 3

primary and secondary qualities

Answer 3

Locke
objects of perception have primary qualities which are intrinsic to the object and secondary qualities which are just in our mind
Primary qualities are shape, extension, number, movement
Secondary qualities are colour, taste, smell, touch

Question 4

how does indirect realism lead to scepticism?

Answer 4

if all we perceive directly are sense-data, then we never perceive the mind-independent objects
There is a ‘veil of perception’ between our sense data and the external world through which we cannot perceive
we can’t actually know that mind-independent objects exist at all, let alone whether sense data represents them
this could eventually lead to solopsism

Question 5

how does Russel respond to the issue of scepticism?

Answer 5

best hypothesis