Lecture 5&6 Truth and Perception and Aristotle Flashcards
What is perception?
The psychological process by which we become aware of ordinary objects when our sense organs are stimulated
Perception is how we ‘know’ the world through our five senses.
What does Commensense (or Naive) Realism propose?
We experience an object exactly as it actually exists
This perspective suggests that our senses provide reliable information about the world.
What are some challenges to Commensense Realism?
Mirages, dreams, and hallucinations
These phenomena illustrate that everything is not as it appears.
What is Epistemological Dualism?
The theory that there is a world of objects ‘out there’ and a world of ideas ‘in our mind’
This concept was proposed by John Locke.
How do our senses function according to Epistemological Dualism?
They trigger ideas in our mind, creating a representation of external objects
This is likened to a camera making a subjective copy of an object.
What is Subjective Idealism?
The belief that all we have is our subjective experience, creating our ‘reality’
George Berkeley stated, ‘To be is to be perceived.’
What is Solipsism?
The philosophical idea that only one’s own mind is sure to exist
Berkeley suggested God as the originator of ideas to avoid denying external reality.
What does Phenomenalism propose?
The external world exists, but we can only know it as it appears to our senses
Immanuel Kant emphasized the difference between noumenon and phenomenon.
What are the two types of knowledge according to Kant?
- Form of knowledge
- Content of knowledge
Form is how the mind structures information, while content is the sensory data received.
What is a priori knowledge?
Knowledge that is structured by our mind before receiving sensory data
It implies that the mind has a framework ready to process incoming information.
What did Noam Chomsky identify related to language?
Universal Grammar
He argued that physical limitations of the brain restrict language variations to a ‘deep structure.’
What are considered a priori forms of knowledge?
- Time
- Space
- Causation
These forms are termed ‘intuitions’ because they are not derived from critical thinking.
What is Contemporary Realism?
The view that there is an objective, real world external to our senses
It asserts a reliable natural process connecting our brain to objects.
What is the significance of trial and error in discovering reality?
It is essential in the scientific method for understanding the objective world
This process helps validate our perceptions and knowledge.
What is a key question raised in the summary of perception?
How does a physical event cause a mental one?
This question highlights the relationship between perception, thought, and truth.