Direct realism
“Asses Direct realism”
introduction I will argue direct realism is false
Strongest argument is that from time lag, as it shows that we cannot directly envision the world
as it is due to the complex processes behind vision which takes up time
Time Lag Light takes 8 mins to reach the sun, it is conceivable that if the sun ceased to exist, we would be
argument perceiving something which doesn’t exist.
P1. The light from distant objects takes time to reach our eyes
C1. So what we are seeing now may no longer exist
C2. so what we are seeing and what there is is different
P2. this is no less true for objects at any distance
C3 . And so, what we directly perceive are appearances, not physical objects, so direct realism
is false.
C1 doesn't imply It does not necessarily refute direct realism as a whole, instead it challenges the misconception
C2 that direct realism states we do not see everything how they are in real time, our senses offer a
very accurate and direct representation of the world.
Time Lag still While it may be true that C1 does not necessarily indicate C2, it does however highlight the
shows that we do implication of the argument that the time lag introduces a degree of uncertainty and fallibility
not have direct between what we perceive and veridical reality. It still succeeds in challenging the view that
access to the direct realism gives us ‘direct’ access to the physical world.
physical world
Illusion argument Stick looks crooked in water but isn't in reality.- senses may distort the true nature of reality.
P1. when subject to an illusion, there is an apparent property
P2. the perceiver is aware of this
P3. the object does not have this property in real life
C1. so what the perceiver is directly aware of and what is real are distinct
C2. So direct realism is false
Strongest is C1, as this concludes that due to the warped senses caused by illusion, we in fact
do not see directly
P2 misrepresents We are directly aware of the real straw, it just looks that way due to the circumstances it is
thee situation under, there isn't anything mediating between the two.
Relational The stick instead has the relational properties of looking bent.
properties
Hallucination Has no correspondence to the external world, therefore cannot have relational properties, as
there is no external object for them to relate to.
P1. hallucinations occur when a person perceives something which exists outside of the mind
C1. so the hallucinations which they perceive exists only in their mind
P2. hallucinations can be subjectively indistinguishable from reality
P3. the person is aware of the same thing in both cases
C2. from c1, p2, p3 what they are directly aware of must be in the mind
C3. hence direct realism is false
“Asses Direct realism”
introduction I will argue direct realism is false
Strongest argument is that from time lag, as it shows that we cannot directly envision the world
as it is due to the complex processes behind vision which takes up time
Time Lag Light takes 8 mins to reach the sun, it is conceivable that if the sun ceased to exist, we would be
argument perceiving something which doesn’t exist.
P1. The light from distant objects takes time to reach our eyes
C1. So what we are seeing now may no longer exist
C2. so what we are seeing and what there is is different
P2. this is no less true for objects at any distance
C3 . And so, what we directly perceive are appearances, not physical objects, so direct realism
is false.
C1 doesn't imply It does not necessarily refute direct realism as a whole, instead it challenges the misconception
C2 that direct realism states we do not see everything how they are in real time, our senses offer a
very accurate and direct representation of the world.
Time Lag still While it may be true that C1 does not necessarily indicate C2, it does however highlight the
shows that we do implication of the argument that the time lag introduces a degree of uncertainty and fallibility
not have direct between what we perceive and veridical reality. It still succeeds in challenging the view that
access to the direct realism gives us ‘direct’ access to the physical world.
physical world
Illusion argument Stick looks crooked in water but isn't in reality.- senses may distort the true nature of reality.
P1. when subject to an illusion, there is an apparent property
P2. the perceiver is aware of this
P3. the object does not have this property in real life
C1. so what the perceiver is directly aware of and what is real are distinct
C2. So direct realism is false
Strongest is C1, as this concludes that due to the warped senses caused by illusion, we in fact
do not see directly
P2 misrepresents We are directly aware of the real straw, it just looks that way due to the circumstances it is
thee situation under, there isn't anything mediating between the two.
Relational The stick instead has the relational properties of looking bent.
properties
Hallucination Has no correspondence to the external world, therefore cannot have relational properties, as
there is no external object for them to relate to.
P1. hallucinations occur when a person perceives something which exists outside of the mind
C1. so the hallucinations which they perceive exists only in their mind
P2. hallucinations can be subjectively indistinguishable from reality
P3. the person is aware of the same thing in both cases
C2. from c1, p2, p3 what they are directly aware of must be in the mind
C3. hence direct realism is false
