Thomas Reid's Theory of Perception - Rilegato

Nichols, Ryan

Rilegato

ISBN 10: 0199276919 ISBN 13: 9780199276912

Casa editrice: OUP Oxford, 2007

Riassunto

The thesis that the mind cannot directly apprehend features of the physical world - what Reid calls the Way of Ideas - is a staple of Early Modern philosophical tradition. This commitment to the direct awareness of, and only of, mental representations unifies the otherwise divergent philosophical systems of Rationalists and Empiricists. Thomas Reid battles against this thesis on many fronts, in particular over the nature of perception.

Ryan Nichols lays the groundwork for Reid's theory of perception by developing Reid's unheralded argument against a representational theory of thought, which Nichols applies to his discussion of the intentionality of perceptual states and Reid's appeal to 'signs'. Reid's efforts to preserve common sense epistemic commitments also lead him to adopt unique theories about our concepts of primary and secondary qualities, and about original and acquired perceptions. About the latter pair, Nichols argues that most perceptual beliefs depend for their justification upon inferences. The Way of Ideas holds that sensations are objects of awareness and that our senses are not robustly unified. Nichols develops Reid's counter-proposals by examining his discussion of the evolutionary purpose of sensations, and the nature of our awareness of sensations, as well as his intriguing affirmative answer to Molyneux's questions.

Nichols brings to the writing of this book a consummate knowledge of Reid's texts, published and unpublished, and a keen appreciation for Reid's responses to his predecessors. He frequently reconstructs arguments in premise/conclusion form, thereby clarifying disputes that have frustrated previous Reid scholarship. This clarification, his lively examples, and his plainspoken style make this book especially readable. Reid's theory of perception is by far the most important feature of Reid's philosophical system, and Nichols offers what will be, for a long time to come, the definitive analysis of this theory.

Su questo libro

Recensione

Reid's Theory of Perception is a fine book, and deserves to be widely read and discussed. (James Harris, Philosophical Review)

Contenuti

• Introduction
• 1: Reid's Method
• 2: Intentional Awareness
• 3: Perceptual Awareness through Touch
• 4: Visual Perception
• 5: The Purpose of Sensations
• 6: Qualities
• 7: Our Awareness of Sensations
• 8: Perceptual Learning
• 9: Answering Molyneux
• 10: Empiricism and the Way of Ideas
• Bibliography

Dettagli dell?edizione

• Editore: OUP Oxford
• Data di pubblicazione: 2007
• ISBN 10: 0199276919
• ISBN 13: 9780199276912
• Rilegatura: Copertina rigida
• Lingua: Inglese
• Numero di pagine: 320
• Contatto del produttore: non disponibile