more from Bertrand Russell

Single Idea 21537

[catalogued under 11. Knowledge Aims / C. Knowing Reality / 1. Perceptual Realism / b. Direct realism]

Full Idea

I prefer to advocate ...that the object of a presentation is the actual external object itself, and not any part of the presentation at all.

Gist of Idea

I assume we perceive the actual objects, and not their 'presentations'

Source

Bertrand Russell (Meinong on Complexes and Assumptions [1904], p.33)

Book Reference

Russell,Bertrand: 'Essays in Analysis', ed/tr. Lackey,Douglas [George Braziller 1973], p.33


A Reaction

Although I am a fan of the robust realism usually favoured by Russell, I think he is wrong. I take Russell to be frightened that once you take perception to be of 'presentations' rather than things, there is a slippery slope to anti-realism. Not so.

Related Idea

Idea 21536 When I perceive a melody, I do not perceive the notes as existing [Russell]