Single Idea 7299

[catalogued under 12. Knowledge Sources / B. Perception / 2. Qualities in Perception / c. Primary qualities]

Full Idea

All the primary qualities lend themselves readily to mathematical or geometric description. ...but it seems that secondary qualities are less amenable to being represented mathematically.

Gist of Idea

Primary qualities can be described mathematically, unlike secondary qualities

Source

Cardinal/Hayward/Jones (Epistemology [2004], Ch.4)

Book Reference

Cardinal/Hayward/Jones: 'Epistemology: the theory of knowledge' [John Murray 2004], p.96


A Reaction

As a believer in the primary/secondary distinction, I welcome this point. This is either evidence for the external reality of primary qualities, or an interesting observation about maths. Do we make the primary/secondary distinction because we do maths?