Single Idea 5691

[catalogued under 12. Knowledge Sources / B. Perception / 8. Adverbial Theory]

Full Idea

Some who reject the act-object conception of sensation favour an 'adverbial' account, where (instead of the act of 'seeing a red image') it is better to speak of 'being appeared to redly'.

Clarification

Adverbs are words (such as 'redly') which qualify verbs (such as 'appear')

Gist of Idea

The adverbial account of sensation says not 'see a red image' but be 'appeared to redly'

Source

Sydney Shoemaker (Introspection [1994], p.398)

Book Reference

'A Companion to the Philosophy of Mind', ed/tr. Guttenplan,Samuel [Blackwell 1995], p.398


A Reaction

The point is that you couldn't perceive without a colour (or travel without a speed), so the qualifying adverb is intrinsic to the process, not a separate object. The adverbial theory will imply a fairly minimal account of universals.