Summary Indirect realism aqa alevel notes

PERCEPTION AS A SOURCE OF
KNOWLEDGE- INDIRECT REALISM
“The immediate objects of perception are
mind-dependent objects (sense-data)
that represent mind-independent
objects”

, Notes:




External world = mind- independent
Perception method = indirect (via sense data)
Philosophers involved = Locke, Russel

Indirect realism – external world exists independently of the mind, but we perceive the
external world indirectly, via sense data
 Immediate object of perception is sense-data, caused by and represents the mind
independent external world

Sense data =
 Concept of perceptual experience
 Not a physical thing, exists in the mind BUT is caused by mind independent physical
objects
 It is private, no one else can experience you sense data
 Avoids problems with direct realism, object itself stays the same throughout even if
the sense data changes
 Immediately perceived, indubitable, mind-dependant caused by external things &
private

Indirect realism =
 We perceive mind independent physical objects but we perceive this via mind
dependant sense-data
o Caused by and represent mind-independent physical objects
 = WE ARE PERCIEVING SENSE DATA AND PHYSIACL OBJECTS INDIRECTLY
 Sense data is subjective mental things which occur the way we perceive them to be
o Only exist whilst they are being experienced whereas the physical object the
sense data represents continues to exist when no one experiences them

STRONG THEORY AS IT ACCOUNTS FOR ILLUSIONS AND HALLUCINATIONS

Locke primary and secondary qualities: