more from Bertrand Russell

Single Idea 7553

[catalogued under 12. Knowledge Sources / B. Perception / 4. Sense Data / b. Nature of sense-data]

Full Idea

Sense-data are purely physical, and all that is mental in connection with them is our awareness of them.

Gist of Idea

Sense-data are purely physical

Source

Bertrand Russell (The Ultimate Constituents of Matter [1915], p.138)

Book Reference

Russell,Bertrand: 'Mysticism and Logic' [Unwin 1989], p.138


A Reaction

Once this account of sense-data becomes fully clear, it also becomes apparent what a dualist theory it is. The mind is a cinema, I am the audience, and sense-data are the screen. There has to be a big logical gap between viewer and screen.