Single Idea 6362

[catalogued under 12. Knowledge Sources / B. Perception / 6. Inference in Perception]

Full Idea

We think it is a mistake to suppose that the evidence of our senses comes to us in the form of beliefs; in perception, the beliefs we form are almost invariably about the objective properties of physical objects - not about how they appear to us.

Gist of Idea

Sense evidence is not beliefs, because they are about objective properties, not about appearances

Source

J Pollock / J Cruz (Contemporary theories of Knowledge (2nd) [1999], §2.5.5)

Book Reference

Pollock,J.L./Cruz,J: 'Contemporary Theories of Knowledge (2nd)' [Rowman and Littlefield 1999], p.61


A Reaction

The tricky word here is 'evidence'. At what point in the process of perception does something begin to count as evidence? It must at least involve concepts (and maybe even propositions) if it is going to be thought about in that way.