perception is… awareness of things (aka reality) through our 5 senses sight smell touch hearing...
TRANSCRIPT
Perception is…Awareness of things (aka reality) through our 5 sensesSightSmellTouchHearingTaste
Perception…Plays a key role in almost all subject
areasIf you had to choose one, in which
subject area is perception most valuable? Least valuable?
Is the centerpiece of EmpiricismSchool of philosophy that holds that all
knowledge is ultimately based on perceptual experience
In your opinion, is this too extreme, or spot on?
Perception consists of…
Sensation, which is provided by the world
Interpretation, which is provided by our minds.
Perceptual IllusionsWe can become aware of our
interpretations of the world by examining visual illusions
Types of visual illusion include:Context: we examine the overall context of an
image to make a judgment about the size of an object
Figure and Ground: We tend to zero in on certain aspects (figure) and make other parts the background
Visual Grouping: We look for meaning in something and fill in the gaps (e.g. “dog” in the book)
Expectations: Our expectations will influence how we see things. (e.g. Paris in the the spring)
Perceptual Illusions
Selective PerceptionWe don’t process all the data that
we’re presented withWe only notice some things and
overlook othersTypically, there are two kind of
stimuli we notice:Intensity (a loud bang or sneeze)Contrast (e.g. blood on a white
carpet)Mood and interest influences our
perception as well; e.g. 3 friends hiking
Relationship between Belief and SightOur belief influences/taints/informs
our sightIf we’re consciously looking for
something, then we may see it even if it’s not really thereVulcanVirgin Mary in a church window; a
face on Mars
Eye-witness testimonyShown to be incredibly unreliableThe eye is not a camera and visual
memories are not photographsEven possible to say that every time
we remember something we reconstruct it
For HW, please read 105 to 107 and take double column notes (5 entries)
Perception…
…can be an important source of knowledge. BUT, why do we need to treat it with caution?
Confirmation by another sense
One sense alone will not always provide us with an accurate idea of reality
Why privilege touch over the other senses?
Coherence
Also featured in determining whether a knowledge claim is reasonable or not
In the context of sensory perception, if something doesn’t fit in, then most likely you are mistaken
Independent Testimony
Credibility of evidence increases with each additional witness
Such testimony pushes credibility of evidence into the realm of “beyond a reasonable doubt”
Ultimate reality
Can we ever have knowledge of ultimate reality?
If so, how? If not, why not?
Experiencing reality
Pain, taste and color are simply the subjective experience that results from the interaction of you and your environment
e.g. Grass is not green, it’s just that you see green grass
Is reality colorless as the book says?
Experiencing reality
If a tree falls…Is sound physical? Or experienced? What difference does it make?
Can we say that colors, sounds, and tastes exist out there independent of our experience of them?
Experiencing reality
If a tree falls…Is sound physical? Or experienced? What difference does it make?
Can we say that colors, sounds, and tastes exist out there independent of our experience of them?
Experiencing reality
Does it matter whether things behave as expected when we’re not around?
Does it really only matter if we’re there?
E.g. tables in the classroom
3 Theories about Reality
Common-sense realismThe way we perceive the world mirrors it as it is
What is a criticism of common-sense realism?
3 Theories about Reality
Scientific RealismThe world exists as an independent reality and is very different from how we perceive it
Physical table vs. scientific tableUltra-zoom view
3 Theories about RealityPhenomenalism
Matter is “the permanent possibility of sensation” and it makes not sense to say the world exists independent of our experience of it
Beyond our experience of reality, there is nothing to be said, despite the probable fact that the world may exist outside of our experience with it