PERCEPTION- What Is Direct Realism

Question 1

What are the two elements of perception according to direct realism

Answer 1

The perceiver and the object perceived

Question 2

Which indirect realism notion does direct realism reject

Answer 2

Sense data

Question 3

Explain why an direct realist would say we immediately perceive physical objects

Answer 3

If there is nothing mediating between the perceiver and the perceived then we perceive physical objects immediately
So when we perceive the world we do so without sense data and are directly aware of the objects themselves

Question 4

Explain what a direct realist means when they say physical objects are mind-independent

Answer 4

Means objects exist outside your mind
Therefore if you cease to perceive an object it doesn’t cease to exist (e.g. you close your eyes)

Question 5

Explain what a direct realist means when they say our minds detect the properties of objects that exist in the real world (e.g. colour, shape etc)

Answer 5

The objects are not only mind independent but also there properties

Question 6

What example are used by direct realists to prove that objects retain their properties when they aren’t being perceived

Answer 6

If a tree falls in a forest when there is no one to hear it it still makes a sound