Single Idea 20750

[catalogued under 12. Knowledge Sources / B. Perception / 5. Interpretation]

Full Idea

I do not have one perception, then another, and between them a link brought about by the mind. Rather, each perspective merges into the other [against a unified background].

Gist of Idea

The mind does not unite perceptions, because they flow into one another

Source

Maurice Merleau-Ponty (Phenomenology of Perception [1945], p.329-30), quoted by Kevin Aho - Existentialism: an introduction 3 'Perceptual'

Book Reference

Aho,Kevin: 'Existentialism: an introduction' [Polity 2014], p.41


A Reaction

I take this to be another piece of evidence pointing to realism as the best explanation of experience. A problem for Descartes is what unites the sequence of thoughts.

Related Idea

Idea 5188 A thought doesn't imply other thoughts, or enough thoughts to make up a self [Ayer on Descartes]