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A Case against Conceptualism about Perceptual Content: First Perception

Year 2018, Volume: 1 Issue: 2, 183 - 194, 30.12.2018

Abstract

Abstract: There are two major
philosophical positions about the nature of representational content of
perception; conceptualism and nonconceptualism. According to conceptualism,
perceptual content is wholly conceptual, therefore, in order to be in a
contentful perceptual state, a subject needs to possess all concepts that
characterize the content of the experience. Nonconceptualism, on the other
hand, is the view that perceptual content is nonconceptual, and that possessing
relevant concepts is not necessarily required for having a perceptual
experience. In this study, an argument against the conceptualist thesis will be
proposed. The argument will be based on “the Molyneux problem,” and will
present a more radical version of the problem in order to illustrate the
possibility of nonconceptual perception. 

References

  • Banks, M. S. and Gingsburg, A. P. (1985). “Infant Visual Preferences: A Review and New Theoretical Treatment.” Advances in Child Development 19: 207-243.
  • Berkeley, George (2008). An Essay Towards a New Theory of Vision. Rockville: Arc Manor.
  • Bermúdez, José L. (2000). The Paradox of Self-Consciousness. Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press.
  • Bermúdez, José L. (2003). “Nonconceptual Content: From Perceptual Experience to Subpersonal Computational States.” In York H. Gunther (Ed.), Essays on Nonconceptual Content, (pp. 183-216).
  • Brewer, Bill (1999). Perception and Reason. Oxford: Calderon Press.
  • Campbell, John (2005). “Information Processing, Phenomenal Consciousness and Molyneux’s Question.” In José Luis Bermúdez (Ed.), Thought, Reference and Experience: Themes form the Philosophy of Gareth Evans, (pp. 195-219). New York: Oxford University Press.
  • Carey, S. and Xu F. (2001). “Infants’ Knowledge of Objects: Beyond Object Files and Object Tracking.” Cognition, 80: 179-213.
  • Cheselden, William (1728). “An Account of Some Observations Made by a Young Gentleman, Who Was Born Blind, or Lost His Sight so Early, That He Had no Remembrance of Ever Having Seen, and Was Couched between 13 and 14 Years of Age.” Philosophical Transactions, 35: 447-450.
  • Dretske, Fred (1969). Seeing and Knowing. Chicago: Chicago University Press.
  • Evans, Gareth (1982). The Varieties of Reference. John McDowell (Ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  • Evans, Gareth (1985). “Molyneux’s Question.” In John McDowell (Ed.), Collected Papers. New York: Oxford University Press.
  • Falkenstein, Lorne (2010). “Étienne Bonnot de Condillac.” In Edward N. Zalta (Ed.), The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.Retrieved from http://plato.stanford.edu/archives/fall2010/entries/condillac/
  • Gallagher, Shaun (1996). "First Perception: A New Solution to the Molyneux Problem.” In Proceedings of the Creighton Club, 141st Meeting of The New York State Philosophical Association, (pp. 1-13).
  • James, William (1890). The Principles of Psychology. Harvard University Press.
  • Locke, John (1998). An Essay Concerning Human Understanding. Wordsworth Edition Ltd.
  • McDowell, John (1996). Mind and World. Cambridge, Massachusetts, London: Harvard University Press.
  • Peacocke, Christopher (1998). “Nonconceptual Content Defended.” Philosophy and Phenomenological Research, 58(2): 381-388.
  • Peacocke, Christopher (1999). A Study of Concepts. Cambridge, Mass. and London: MIT Press.
  • Pylyshyn, Zenon W. (2007). Things and Places: How the Mind Connects with the World. Cambridge, Mass. and London: MIT Press.
  • Tye, Michael (2005). “On the Nonconceptual Content of Experience.” In M. E. Reicher and J. C. Marek (Eds.), Experience and Analysis, (pp. 221-239).

Algısal İçerik Kavramsalcılığına Karşı bir Durum: İlk Algı

Year 2018, Volume: 1 Issue: 2, 183 - 194, 30.12.2018

Abstract

Öz: Algının temsil edici içeriği
hakkında iki temel felsefi duruş vardır; kavramsalcılık ve kavram-dışsalcılık.
Kavramsalcılığa göre, algısal içerik tamamen kavramsaldır bu nedenle içerikli
bir algı deneyimine sahip olabilmek için öznenin algı içeriğini tanımlayan tüm
kavramlara sahip olması gerekir. Öte yandan kavram-dışsalcılık, algısal
içeriğin kavramsal olmadığı ve algısal deneyim için kavramlara sahip olmanın
gerekli olmadığı görüşüdür. Bu çalışmada kavramsalcı teze karşı bir argüman
sunulacaktır. Argüman “Molyneux problemine” dayanmakta ve bu problemin daha
radikal bir versiyonunu sunarak kavramsal olmayan algıyı örneklemeyi
hedeflemektedir
.

References

  • Banks, M. S. and Gingsburg, A. P. (1985). “Infant Visual Preferences: A Review and New Theoretical Treatment.” Advances in Child Development 19: 207-243.
  • Berkeley, George (2008). An Essay Towards a New Theory of Vision. Rockville: Arc Manor.
  • Bermúdez, José L. (2000). The Paradox of Self-Consciousness. Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press.
  • Bermúdez, José L. (2003). “Nonconceptual Content: From Perceptual Experience to Subpersonal Computational States.” In York H. Gunther (Ed.), Essays on Nonconceptual Content, (pp. 183-216).
  • Brewer, Bill (1999). Perception and Reason. Oxford: Calderon Press.
  • Campbell, John (2005). “Information Processing, Phenomenal Consciousness and Molyneux’s Question.” In José Luis Bermúdez (Ed.), Thought, Reference and Experience: Themes form the Philosophy of Gareth Evans, (pp. 195-219). New York: Oxford University Press.
  • Carey, S. and Xu F. (2001). “Infants’ Knowledge of Objects: Beyond Object Files and Object Tracking.” Cognition, 80: 179-213.
  • Cheselden, William (1728). “An Account of Some Observations Made by a Young Gentleman, Who Was Born Blind, or Lost His Sight so Early, That He Had no Remembrance of Ever Having Seen, and Was Couched between 13 and 14 Years of Age.” Philosophical Transactions, 35: 447-450.
  • Dretske, Fred (1969). Seeing and Knowing. Chicago: Chicago University Press.
  • Evans, Gareth (1982). The Varieties of Reference. John McDowell (Ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  • Evans, Gareth (1985). “Molyneux’s Question.” In John McDowell (Ed.), Collected Papers. New York: Oxford University Press.
  • Falkenstein, Lorne (2010). “Étienne Bonnot de Condillac.” In Edward N. Zalta (Ed.), The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.Retrieved from http://plato.stanford.edu/archives/fall2010/entries/condillac/
  • Gallagher, Shaun (1996). "First Perception: A New Solution to the Molyneux Problem.” In Proceedings of the Creighton Club, 141st Meeting of The New York State Philosophical Association, (pp. 1-13).
  • James, William (1890). The Principles of Psychology. Harvard University Press.
  • Locke, John (1998). An Essay Concerning Human Understanding. Wordsworth Edition Ltd.
  • McDowell, John (1996). Mind and World. Cambridge, Massachusetts, London: Harvard University Press.
  • Peacocke, Christopher (1998). “Nonconceptual Content Defended.” Philosophy and Phenomenological Research, 58(2): 381-388.
  • Peacocke, Christopher (1999). A Study of Concepts. Cambridge, Mass. and London: MIT Press.
  • Pylyshyn, Zenon W. (2007). Things and Places: How the Mind Connects with the World. Cambridge, Mass. and London: MIT Press.
  • Tye, Michael (2005). “On the Nonconceptual Content of Experience.” In M. E. Reicher and J. C. Marek (Eds.), Experience and Analysis, (pp. 221-239).
There are 20 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Philosophy
Journal Section Research/Review Articles
Authors

Pakize Arıkan Sandıkcıoğlu

Publication Date December 30, 2018
Acceptance Date December 27, 2018
Published in Issue Year 2018 Volume: 1 Issue: 2

Cite

APA Arıkan Sandıkcıoğlu, P. (2018). A Case against Conceptualism about Perceptual Content: First Perception. MetaZihin: Yapay Zeka Ve Zihin Felsefesi Dergisi, 1(2), 183-194.