Single Idea 6500

[catalogued under 12. Knowledge Sources / B. Perception / 2. Qualities in Perception / d. Secondary qualities]

Full Idea

As secondary qualities are tailored to match senses, a proliferation of senses would lead to a proliferation of secondary qualities.

Gist of Idea

If secondary qualities match senses, would new senses create new qualities?

Source

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

Book Reference

Robinson,Howard: 'Perception' [Routledge 2001], p.69


A Reaction

One might reply that if we experienced, say, magnetism, we would just be discerning a new fine grained primary quality, not adding something new to the ontological stock of properties in the world. It is a matter of HOW we experience the magnetism.