Thomas Reid's Theory of PerceptionClarendon Press, 2007 M01 11 - 320 páginas The thesis that the mind cannot directly apprehend features of the physical world - what Reid calls the Way of Ideas - is a staple of Early Modern philosophical tradition. This commitment to the direct awareness of, and only of, mental representations unifies the otherwise divergent philosophical systems of Rationalists and Empiricists. Thomas Reid battles against this thesis on many fronts, in particular over the nature of perception. Ryan Nichols lays the groundwork for Reid's theory of perception by developing Reid's unheralded argument against a representational theory of thought, which Nichols applies to his discussion of the intentionality of perceptual states and Reid's appeal to 'signs'. Reid's efforts to preserve common sense epistemic commitments also lead him to adopt unique theories about our concepts of primary and secondary qualities, and about original and acquired perceptions. About the latter pair, Nichols argues that most perceptual beliefs depend for their justification upon inferences. The Way of Ideas holds that sensations are objects of awareness and that our senses are not robustly unified. Nichols develops Reid's counter-proposals by examining his discussion of the evolutionary purpose of sensations, and the nature of our awareness of sensations, as well as his intriguing affirmative answer to Molyneux's questions. Nichols brings to the writing of this book a consummate knowledge of Reid's texts, published and unpublished, and a keen appreciation for Reid's responses to his predecessors. He frequently reconstructs arguments in premise/conclusion form, thereby clarifying disputes that have frustrated previous Reid scholarship. This clarification, his lively examples, and his plainspoken style make this book especially readable. Reid's theory of perception is by far the most important feature of Reid's philosophical system, and Nichols offers what will be, for a long time to come, the definitive analysis of this theory. |
Contenido
1 | |
1 Reids Method | 14 |
2 Intentional Awareness | 41 |
3 Perceptual Awareness through Touch | 72 |
4 Visual Perception | 109 |
5 The Purpose of Sensations | 143 |
6 Qualities | 161 |
7 Our Awareness of Sensations | 186 |
8 Perceptual Learning | 211 |
9 Answering Molyneux | 246 |
10 Empiricism and the Way of Ideas | 277 |
286 | |
299 | |
Otras ediciones - Ver todas
Términos y frases comunes
acquired perception agent analysis answer appears apprehension argues argument awareness Berkeley body cause chapter claim cognitive color common conceive conception conclusion conscious contrast cube describes direct discussion distance distinction distinguish evidence example existence experience explain extension external fact faculties follows geometrical give given holds human Hume Hume’s ideas identify immediate implies important impressions Inquiry Intellectual Powers intentional intentional content interpretation knowledge Locke means mental mind mind-independent Molyneux’s nature necessary notion objects observation offers operations original passage perceive perceptual beliefs philosophical physical position present primary qualities principle problem produced properties question reasoning refer Reid Reid says Reid’s theory relation represent representational require says secondary qualities seems sensations sense sensory sight signs sphere suggest tactile theory of perception thesis things thought touch understand visible figure vision visual perception