Single Idea 19526

[catalogued under 11. Knowledge Aims / C. Knowing Reality / 1. Perceptual Realism / b. Direct realism]

Full Idea

When I ask myself what I am acquainted with, the physical objects in front of me are far more natural candidates than their appearances.

Gist of Idea

Surely I am acquainted with physical objects, not with appearances?

Source

Timothy Williamson (Knowledge First (and reply) [2014], p.3)

Book Reference

'Contemporary Debates in Epistemology (2nd ed)', ed/tr. Steup/Turri/Sosa [Wiley Blackwell 2014], p.3


A Reaction

Not very impressive. The word 'acquainted' means the content of the experience, not the phenomena. Do I 'experience' the objects, or the appearances? The answer there is less obvious. If you apply it to colours, it is even less obvious.

Related Idea

Idea 19527 We don't acquire evidence and then derive some knowledge, because evidence IS knowledge [Williamson]