Indirect realism Flashcards
Why does indirect realism still qualify as realism?
It posits that objects exist outside perception
What names do Locke and Russel give to our perception?
Locke- Ideas
Russel- Sense-data
How many objects in perception and what are they?
3- The perceiver, the object and the sense data that mediates the interaction.
Why is it called ‘indirect realism’?
Because we must infer material reality indirectly through the senses.
What is the first supporting factor relating to direct realism?
It accounts for hallucinations, illusions, time-lag, perceptual variation and perspectival variation.
How does Locke define his ‘ideas?’
‘Whatsoever the mind perceives in itself’
How does Locke define his ‘qualities’?
The power to produce an idea in our mind
What are the primary qualities?
e.g. extension, shape, motion, stillness
How do the primary qualities relate to reality?
It corresponds accurately to the sense data.
What are the secondary qualities?
colour, taste, smell
How do the secondary qualities relate to the primary?
The primary qualities cause me to perceive a secondary e.g. the chemical chlorophyl causes me to see green in a plant.
What does Locke call the ability to produce an idea or sensation in us?
‘Powers’ to produce a sensation in us.
Give an argument for Locke that involves cutting things.
P1: I am able to cut an object down in to the smaller possible parts so that I can no longer see it but, despite not being perceivable, the object would still have its primary qualities.
C1: Therefore primary qualities are mind-independent.
Give an argument for Locke that involves pounding things.
P1: When I crush an almond I merely change it’s shape
P2: However, the smell and taste (secondary qualities) also change.
C: Therefore, the change in colour and taste is caused by the change in the almond’s parts.
Give an argument for Locke that involves closing our eyes.
P1: Certain qualities disappear if I block my sense organs.
C: Secondary qualities depend on our sense organs and do not exist as perceived in reality.
Give two parts of ‘obvious criticism’ for Locke’s destruction-based arguments.
- Locke reasons that if a quality changes then it must be secondary but the shape of the almond changes and so must be mind-dependent too. Surely crushed almonds can have objectively different qualities.
- If you close your eyes you cannot see primary qualities either.
Give an argument based on a clear liquid that isn’t vodka that addresses the issue of perceptual variation.
P1: The same lukewarm water can produce an idea of cold to one hand and warm to another.
P2: One object (the water) cannot have these two properties at the same time.
C1: Therefore these properties cannot belong to the object (water)
C2: So cold and warmth are perceptions produced by the perceiver.
What are sense data caused by?
Pirmary qualities
Are sense data mind dependent?
yes.
How can we define sense data?
What the perceiver is directly aware of in perception
How can we define qualities?
What the perceiver is indirectly aware of in perception.
How do ideas of primary qualities relate to primary qualities?
They resemble them
Do ideas of secondary qualities represent the secondary qualities of objects?
No.
What is the first main issue with Locke’s realism? Detail the issue.
Solipsism.
- We are only directly aware of sense data and therefore must infer that objects exist.
- Our senses can deceive us, e.g. Cartesian demon.
- Inference is not sufficient for knowledge.
