more from Bertrand Russell

Single Idea 21579

[catalogued under 13. Knowledge Criteria / B. Internal Justification / 5. Coherentism / b. Pro-coherentism]

Full Idea

Objects of sense are called 'real' when they have the kind of connection with other objects of sense which experience has led us to regard as normal; when they fail this, they are called 'illusions'.

Gist of Idea

Objects are treated as real when they connect with other experiences in a normal way

Source

Bertrand Russell (Our Knowledge of the External World [1914], 3)

Book Reference

Russell,Bertrand: 'Our Knowledge of the External World' [Routledge 1993], p.93


A Reaction

This rests rather too much on the concept of 'normal', but offers an attractive coherence account of perception. Direct perceptions are often invoked by anti-coherentists, but I think coherence is just as much needed in that realm.