Representationalism and the problem of perception Cover Image

Reprezentacjonizm a problem percepcji
Representationalism and the problem of perception

Author(s): Adriana Schetz
Subject(s): Philosophy
Published by: Uniwersytet Warszawski - Wydział Filozofii i Socjologii, Instytut Filozofii
Keywords: perception; qualia; representation; the sense-data theory

Summary/Abstract: In various philosophical explanations of perceptual experiences two ideas are usually invoked: the idea of intrinsic quality of experience (perceptual quale) and the idea of representation. I argue that the former may be eliminated and replaced by the latter. While discussing the traditional position known as „the sense-data theory” I emphasize the tension between the environment-dependent content of visual experience and its inner or narrow content. I conclude that one cannot find adequate support for the claim that perceptual qualia exist. One should rather admit that perceptual experiences can be fully accounted for in terms of mental representations of apparent features of external objects.

  • Issue Year: 15/2007
  • Issue No: 3 (59)
  • Page Range: 107-120
  • Page Count: 14
  • Language: Polish