IR Flashcards
Summarise ‘Indirect Realism’.
Indirect Realism is a theory in Epistemology that proposes that during perception we are aware of a representation of the external world.
State the claims made by ‘Indirect Realism’.
(MAIN) The immediate objects of perception are mind-dependent objects (sense-data) that are caused by and represent mind-independent objects.
1) Realism - At least some mind-independent objects exist.
2) Indirect perception of the External World via sense-data - we are indirectly aware of the mind-independent external world during perception via immediate awareness of mind-dependent sense-data.
3) Representation - These mind-dependent sense-data are able to represent information about mind-independent objects/properties.
4) Causation -These mind-dependent sense-data are caused by the mind-independent objects that they represent.
5) Knowledge of the External World - We can have knowledge of the external world because we are immediately aware of mind-dependent sense-data that represent it.
Define ‘Sense-Data’.
Sense-data refers to the content of perceptual experience.
Define ‘Primary Qualities’.
Primary Qualities are properties that the mind-independent object has which gives it the “power” to cause ideas / sense-data in my mind that resemble the property the object really has.
Define ‘Secondary Qualities’.
Secondary Qualities are properties that the mind-independent object has which gives it the “power” to cause ideas / sense-data in my mind that do not resemble the property that the object really has.
Summarise ‘The Argument for the Primary / Secondary quality distinction’
The Argument for the Primary / Secondary quality distinction is an argument within Epistemology that proposes that our representation is an accurate resemblance of an object’s primary qualities but not an accurate resemblance of its secondary qualities.
State ‘The Argument for the Primary / Secondary quality distinction’ in standard form.
P1) Variation - An object cannot be perceived to have different types of a primary quality, whereas an object can be perceived to have different types of a secondary quality.
P2) Conceivability - An object cannot be conceived of without a Primary Quality, whereas it can be conceived without a Secondary Quality.
P3) Multi-Sensory - A primary Quality can be perceived through multiple senses, whereas a Secondary quality cannot.
P4) These three differences give us good reason to think that our ideas of Primary Qualities resemble properties that the objects really have whereas our ideas of Secondary Qualities do not.
C) Therefore, our representation is an accurate resemblance of an object’s primary qualities but not an accurate resemblance of its secondary qualities.
