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Single Idea 6452

[filed under theme 12. Knowledge Sources / B. Perception / 4. Sense Data / a. Sense-data theory ]

Full Idea

The term 'sense-data' gained currency around 1910, through writings of Moore and Russell, but it seems to denote at least some of the things referred to as 'ideas of sense' (Locke), or 'ideas' and 'sensible qualities' (Berkeley), or 'impressions' (Hume).

Gist of Idea

'Sense-data' arrived in 1910, but it denotes ideas in Locke, Berkeley and Hume

Source

Thomas Mautner (Penguin Dictionary of Philosophy [1996], p.518)

Book Ref

Mautner,Thomas: 'Dictionary of Philosophy' [Penguin 1997], p.518

A Reaction

See also Hobbes in Idea 2356 for an even earlier version. It looks as if the concept of sense-data is almost unavoidable for empiricists, and yet most modern empiricists have rejected them. You still have to give an account of perceptual illusions.

Related Idea

Idea 2356 Appearance and reality can be separated by mirrors and echoes [Hobbes]

The 23 ideas with the same theme [theory that sense-data actually exist]:

16638 The qualities of the world are mere appearances; reality is the motions which cause them [Hobbes]
2356 Appearance and reality can be separated by mirrors and echoes [Hobbes]
4164 Direct feeling of the senses are merely data; perception of the world comes with understanding causes [Schopenhauer]
6417 In 1921 Russell abandoned sense-data, and the gap between sensation and object [Russell, by Grayling]
6474 Seeing is not in itself knowledge, but is separate from what is seen, such as a patch of colour [Russell]
6415 After 1912, Russell said sense-data are last in analysis, not first in experience [Russell, by Grayling]
5358 'Sense-data' are what are immediately known in sensation, such as colours or roughnesses [Russell]
18280 We live in sense-data, but talk about physical objects [Wittgenstein]
6524 Positivists prefer sense-data to objects, because the vocabulary covers both illusions and perceptions [Ayer, by Robinson,H]
2615 The concept of sense-data allows us to discuss appearances without worrying about reality [Ayer]
6455 Maybe 'sense-data' just help us to talk about unusual perceptual situations [Lacey]
6456 Sense-data are neutral uninterpreted experiences, separated from objects and judgements [Angeles]
2782 We can be looking at distant stars which no longer actually exist [Dancy,J]
6451 Visual sense data are an inner picture show which represents the world [Blackburn]
3579 Sense data avoid the danger of misrepresenting the world [Williams,M]
2719 Sense data imply representative realism, possibly only representing primary qualities [Audi,R]
2720 Sense-data (and the rival 'adverbial' theory) are to explain illusions and hallucinations [Audi,R]
6508 Sense-data leads to either representative realism or phenomenalism or idealism [Robinson,H]
4104 One can taste that the wine is sour, and one can also taste the sourness of the wine [Crane]
4105 The traditional supports for the sense datum theory were seeing double and specks before one's eyes [Crane]
2422 The structure of the retina has already simplified the colour information which hits it [Chalmers]
6452 'Sense-data' arrived in 1910, but it denotes ideas in Locke, Berkeley and Hume [Mautner]
7635 Sense-data have an epistemological purpose (foundations) and a metaphysical purpose (explanation) [Maund]