Perception

Question 1

What is direct realism?

Answer 1

Common sense view: objects exist independent of perceiver. We’re directly aware of them.

For: intuitive. Natural.

Question 2

What is the argument from illusion?

Answer 2

Basic: One has illusory experiences, qualities that don’t exist; same account in illusory or veridical; one never aware of physical object.

P1-7. Key=P4 (same account must apply in both veridical and illusory experiences).

Question 3

How might we respond to the argument from illusion?

Answer 3

1. Challenge P4. Adopt disjunctivist analysis (cf. seeing queen, dreaming queen).
   Obj: only need possibility of deception.
   Obj: hallucinations indistinguishable.
2. Only doubt in extreme circumstance (cf. holography student, bad lighting).
   Obj: only need logical consistency.

Question 4

What are sense data?

Answer 4

What we’re aware of is non-ordinary, non-physical object.

Cf. bent stick in water.

Question 5

Outline 3 objections to sense data theory.

Answer 5

1. Scepticism.
   Obj: show non-deductively.
   Rep: hume on induction.
   C. Obj: IBE

2: physical objects essentially invisible.
Obj: we experience some of the qualities.

3: where are sense data located?
Brains/object’s location/appear to be.
Obj: occupy own phenomenal space.