more from Howard Robinson

Single Idea 6502

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

Full Idea

Many modern physicalists first analyse perception as no more than the acquisition of beliefs or information through the senses, and then analyse belief and the possession of information in causal or dispositional terms.

Gist of Idea

Can we reduce perception to acquisition of information, which is reduced to causation or disposition?

Source

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

Book Reference

Robinson,Howard: 'Perception' [Routledge 2001], p.121


A Reaction

(He mentions Armstrong, Dretske and Pitcher). A reduction to dispositions implies behaviourism. This all sounds more like an eliminativist strategy than a reductive one. I would start by saying that perception is only information after interpretation.