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Single Idea 6497

[filed under theme 12. Knowledge Sources / B. Perception / 2. Qualities in Perception / c. Primary qualities ]

Full Idea

The idea that objects do not possess secondary qualities intrinsically rests on the thought that they do not figure in the physicist's account of the world; ..as they are causally idle, no purpose is served by attributing them to objects.

Gist of Idea

We say objects possess no intrinsic secondary qualities because physicists don't need them

Source

Howard Robinson (Perception [1994], III.1)

Book Ref

Robinson,Howard: 'Perception' [Routledge 2001], p.61

A Reaction

On the whole I agree with this, but colours (for example) are not causally idle, as they seem to affect the behaviour of insects. They are properties which can only have a causal effect if there is a brain in their vicinity. Physicists ignore brains.

The 21 ideas with the same theme [qualities considered independent of observation]:

1728 Many objects of sensation are common to all the senses [Aristotle]
14037 Atoms only have shape, weight and size, and the properties which accompany shape [Epicurus]
16718 Primary qualities are the cause of all the other sensible qualities [Albertus Magnus]
16719 The primary qualities are mixed to cause secondary qualities [Burley]
6490 For Descartes, objects have one primary quality, which is geometrical [Descartes, by Robinson,H]
6725 Locke believes matter is an inert, senseless substance, with extension, figure and motion [Locke, by Berkeley]
15982 Qualities are named as primary if they are needed for scientific explanation [Locke, by Alexander,P]
12479 Primary qualities produce simple ideas, such as solidity, extension, motion and number [Locke]
12480 Ideas of primary qualities resemble their objects, but those of secondary qualities don't [Locke]
7049 In Locke, the primary qualities are also powers [Locke, by Heil]
3933 Primary qualities (such as shape, solidity, mass) are held to really exist, unlike secondary qualities [Berkeley]
23637 Primary qualities are the object of mathematics [Reid]
5466 Primary qualities are number, figure, size, texture, motion, configuration, impenetrability and (?) mass [Ellis]
22414 You don't need to know how a square thing looks or feels to understand squareness [McGinn]
22423 Touch doesn't provide direct experience of primary qualities, because touch feels temperature [McGinn]
22426 We can perceive objectively, because primary qualities are not mind-created [McGinn]
3901 Touch only seems to reveal primary qualities [Scruton]
6497 We say objects possess no intrinsic secondary qualities because physicists don't need them [Robinson,H]
7299 Primary qualities can be described mathematically, unlike secondary qualities [Cardinal/Hayward/Jones]
7300 An object cannot remain an object without its primary qualities [Cardinal/Hayward/Jones]
19647 The aspects of objects that can be mathematical allow it to have objective properties [Meillassoux]