Indirect Realism Flashcards
What is indirect realism?
We perceive objects which are mind-independent but we do so via perception of mind-dependent sense-data which is caused by and represents physical objects.
Therefore, the immediate objects of perception are sense-data and physical objects are perceived indirectly.
Consists of 3 parts: the perceiver, the perceived object and sense data.
What is sense data?
The content of one’s sensation, the way things appear. Physical objects may appear differently to how they really are due to our sense-data (e.g. a car getting smaller)
State the 3 differences between sense-data and physical objects.
Sense data is private to the individual (exists in my mind so we cannot experience each other’s sense-data) whereas physical objects are public (part of the external world and available for everyone to experience)
Sense-data exists only when being perceived (mind-dependent) whereas physical objects exist whether being perceived or not (mind-ind.)
Sense data are as they appear to be whereas physical objects are not necessarily as they appear (we may not be able to perceive certain people of the objects)
State supporting evidence for indirect realism.
Each criticism for direct realism can be used as support for indirect realism as they suggest that we are not directly aware of mind-independent objects themselves rather the immediate objects of perception are something else; mind-dependent sense data. This therefore supports the view of indirect realists.
What is the Primary and Secondary quality distinction?
Created by Locke.
A ‘quality’ is a ‘power’ a physical object has to ‘produce an idea in our mind’ For example a snowball having certain qualities that produce the ideas of ‘white’ ‘cold’ and ‘round’
Properties/qualities are separated into two categories: primary and secondary.
What is a primary quality?
Primary qualities (extension, shape, motion, number and solidity) are utterly inseparable from the object. It has them in order to exist (mind-independent) and no matter what changes the object go through.
What is a secondary quality?
Qualities that are ‘nothing but powers to produce various sensations in us’ - they do not exist in the object but in the mind of the perceiver (mind-dependent)
For example colour experienced in vision. It is a quality an object can have only in relation to being seen by someone.
Physical objects always have their primary qualities (essential) but do not always have their secondary qualities (non-essential)
State the 6 differences between primary and secondary qualities.
1) P- essential, S- nonessential
2) P- independent of perception, S- dependent on perception
3) P- Easily compared and quantified, S- not.
4) P- affect how objects interact, S- dont.
5) P- Have potential to cause specific experiences in humans, S - result of experiencing particular primary qualities
6) P- Can usually be perceived by more than one sense, S- usually only one.
Evaluate Locke’s primary secondary distinction.
Physics suggests physical objects do not actually retain all of Locke’s primary qualities, additionally it adds other essential properties such as electrical charge.
Tepid water example - perceptual relativity shows that qualities like temp can be mind-dependent. Needs to be more precise, objective (°c) or subjective (i feel cold) ?
Compare and contrast Direct and Indirect realism.
Both DR and IDR state mind independent objects exist.
For direct realists, what Locke terms “secondary qualities” are relational properties of physical objects. However, indirect realist believe they are kind dependent so physical objects are not perceived directly.
Direct realists believe colour is no less real than primary qualities such as size or shape. However indirect realists acknowledge that a blind man can understand the physics of light but would not understand colour as colour is the experience.
What are the two areas of criticism for IDR?
- Scepticism about the existence of mine-independent objects (does it exist at all?)
- Responses from Locke, Cockburn and Russel. - Scepticism about the nature of mind-independent objects (does it exist like I perceive it?)
- George Berkeley
