Representative Realism Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What does representative realism encompass?

Two worlds: the world around us and the representations presented to us (correct)

The world as perceived directly

Only representations presented to us

Only the world around us

What is the difference between direct and indirect realism?

A direct realist believes we experience properties directly, while an indirect realist believes there is a mental component to perception.

How would you describe the representative realist account of a perceiver's relation to the external world?

It suggests that perceivers interact with the world through representations.

What weaknesses might outweigh the strengths of representative realism?

Subject to interpretation, but includes critiques regarding the veil of perception and solipsism. Signup and view all the answers

What is one strength of representative realism?

It accounts for illusions and hallucinations since experiences can be the same whether real or hallucinatory. Signup and view all the answers

What is one weakness of representative realism?

It creates a gap between the way the world is and how we perceive it, making the world seem inaccessible to our senses. Signup and view all the answers

What is another weakness of representative realism?

It leads to solipsism—the idea that nothing exists beyond the mind. Signup and view all the answers

What is Kant's critique of representative realism?

We can't know anything about the noumenal world; we only have access to the phenomenal world. Signup and view all the answers

What is the tree idea in the context of representative realism?

If a tree fell in the woods, it would make a noise as a secondary quality, but without perceivers, there would be no experience of sound. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Representative Realism

Represents a dualistic view comprising the external world and our mental representations of it.

Direct vs. Indirect Realism

Direct realism posits direct experience of properties as they exist.
Indirect realism involves a mental component affecting perception, suggesting a separation between experience and reality.

Perceiver's Relation to External World

Discusses the way perception interacts with reality, including the process by which mental representations are formed.

Strengths vs. Weaknesses

An examination of strengths and weaknesses of representative realism, debating which outweighs the other.

Strength

Effectively explains phenomena like illusions and hallucinations, where experience remains constant regardless of reality.

First Weakness

The "veil of perception" concept suggests that representative realism renders the world inaccessible, creating a gulf between reality and perception.

Second Weakness

Leads to solipsism, the belief that only one's mind is sure to exist, denying the existence of an external world.

Kant's Critique

Asserts that knowledge is limited to the phenomenal world; the noumenal world remains unknowable, emphasizing the need to refer to experiences meaningfully.

The Tree Idea

Explores the philosophical question about perception; if no perceiver exists, the tree's sound is reduced to mere air compression waves rather than an experiential noise.

Description

This quiz focuses on representative realism and its distinctions, including the differences between direct and indirect realism. Each card provides definitions and explanations to enhance your understanding of these philosophical concepts.