Single Idea 6513

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

Full Idea

Molyneux's Problem is whether someone who was born blind and acquired sight would be able to recognise, on sight, which shapes were which; that is, would they see which shape was the one that felt so-and-so?

Gist of Idea

Would someone who recovered their sight recognise felt shapes just by looking?

Source

Howard Robinson (Perception [1994], VIII.7)

Book Reference

Robinson,Howard: 'Perception' [Routledge 2001], p.207


A Reaction

(Molyneux wrote a letter to John Locke about this). It is a good question, and much discussed in modern times. My estimation is that the person would recognise the shapes. We are partly synaesthetic, and see sharpness as well as feeling it.