Single Idea 12581

[catalogued under 12. Knowledge Sources / B. Perception / 1. Perception]

Full Idea

Once a thinker has acquired a perceptually individuated concept, his possession of that concept can causally influence what contents his experiences possess.

Gist of Idea

Perceptual concepts causally influence the content of our experiences

Source

Christopher Peacocke (A Study of Concepts [1992], 3.3)

Book Reference

Peacocke,Christopher: 'A Study of Concepts' [MIT 1999], p.89


A Reaction

Like having 35 different words for 'snow', I suppose. I'm never convinced by such claims. Having the concepts may well influence what you look at or listen to, but I don't see the deliverances of the senses being changed by the concepts.