PERCEPTION- Issues With Direct Realism: Perceptual Variation

Question 1

Briefly explain the perceptual variation argument

Answer 1

Begins with the observation that the appearance of physical objects can vary depending on the conditions under which they are perceive

Question 2

Which philosopher developed the table example

Answer 2

Bertrand Russell in chapter one of problems in philosophy

Question 3

How is the table argument summarised

Answer 3

P1) direct realism claims that the immediate objects of material objects and their properties(colours, shapes etc)
P2) but when we perceive physical objects the appearance of their properties may vary
P3) the properties of the objects themselves don’t vary
C) direct realism is false: the apparent properties are not the same as the real properties of physical objects

Question 4

Explain Russell’s table example

Answer 4

Shape can vary depending on the angle at which it’s looked at. As the table doesn’t actually change shape, we must distinguish between the real table and the one in our minds

Question 5

What is Russell’s statement that he uses to conclude the table example

Answer 5

“The real table…is not immediately know to us at all, but there must be an inference from what is immediately known”

Question 6

What do indirect realists conclude about perceptual variation

Answer 6

The objects we immediately perceive at the products of sense data.
We must infer the existence and the real properties of objects on the basis of direct acquaintance with sense data.
Therefore we don’t perceive the world directly

Question 7

In what text does Berkeley outline his example

Answer 7

First Dialogue

Question 8

What is berkeleys argument summarised

Answer 8

P1) direct realism claims material objects possess mind-independent properties (heat/cold, taste, smell colour) which we directly perceive
P2) but material objects can be Perceived to have incompatible properties (being hot and cold at the same time etc)
P3) they cannot possess incompatible properties in reality
C) therefore direct realism is false as material objects cannot possess such properties

Question 9

Why is Berkeley’s conclusion better than Russells

Answer 9

Russell doesn’t deny that objects have real properties only that we don’t perceive them as they directly are.
Berkeley claims that perceived qualities of objects are in the mind rather than in the objects