The Role of Sensory Perception in Understanding Reality and Common Sense Realism
This journal explores the complex nature of sensory perception and its implications for our understanding of reality. It examines the philosophical concepts of common sense realism, highlighting how perception involves active inquiry rather than passive reception. We analyze key theories by John Locke and George Berkeley regarding the qualities of objects and the subjective nature of perception. Additionally, we discuss types of perceptual illusions and the influence of context, expectation, and grouping on our visual experiences. Such insights are critical for navigating everyday life and understanding human cognition.
The Role of Sensory Perception in Understanding Reality and Common Sense Realism
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Presentation Transcript
Unit 2: Theory of Knowledge SensoryPerception
If you had to choose one sense to give up permanently, which would it be and why? Journal 9/11
“Common sense realism” • Perception is passage and straightforward • Accurate picture of reality • Act of observation does not affect what is observed • Adequate for dealing with everyday life “common sense realism”
“Perception is active inquiry, not passive reception.” (Ruben Abel) • Awareness of something through our five senses • To see what is the case requires • Context • Inference • Concepts • Experience • Interpretation What’s perception?
Sensation—provided by the world or ourselves? • John Locke • qualities are primary IN the objects (shape, extension, solidity, motion) • George Berkeley • all sense perception can only occur within me • “To be is to be perceived.” • Things are combinations of sensory ideas • “the fallacy of the immaculate perception” Qualities and senses
Types of illusions • Context • Figure and ground • Visual grouping • Expectation Perceptual Illusions
We tend to highlight certain aspects of what we see • Figure + background Figure and ground
Natural human tendency to group perceptual experiences • Faced with ambiguity—humans will seek out pattern • Gestalt Visual grouping
Expectations influence how we see things • “misperception” • Again, partly dependent upon the “coherence” theory of truth Expectation
University of CA researchers have found that sound editing (like this) takes place not in the higher functioning areas of our brain. • “Super Taskers” 2.5% • Intensity/contrast • Moving objects • Survival instinct • Interest • Mood “Cocktail Party Effect”
