What are the key ideas of direct realism? Is it correct?

• Mind-independent objects exist – This is the realism part

• We perceive objects directly – This means we do not perceive
objects via an intermediary
• The naïve version claims that all of the properties we
perceive are part of the object. It says that:

An Orange – Because an Orange -

•Looks Round •Is Round
•Looks Orange •Is Orange
•Tastes sweet •Is sweet
 What are the issues with direct realism?

1. Illusions 2. Perceptual variation

Perceptions are often We don’t all see the world the same way.
mistaken and the way How do we know the way we see the world is
the world appears is not the ‘right’ way? Russell’s table example.
the way it really is.

3. Hallucinations
Sensory experience that is
indistinguishable from
veridical perception.
4. Time-Lag
There is a delay before light reaches us. So what?
How can a direct realist reply to these
issues?

Key question: How do they lead to the view that we are directly
perceiving sense-data not the object?
 What are the key ideas of indirect realism?

Locke agrees that we do not perceive

objects directly. Rather, the immediate
objects of perception are sense-data.

However, our sense-data do resemble

the external world.

He claims that some of the qualities in

our sense-data are also present in the
external world.

Back to our orange…

If Locke is right, which
qualities are in the object
and which are just in our
minds?
 What are the key ideas of indirect realism?

PRIMARY QUALITIES SECONDARY QUALTITIES

•qualities the object has •qualities caused by the object
•exist regardless of how it is being •but do not resemble the object
perceived, or whether it is being •a product of the way our senses work
perceived

Extension
Smell
Colour

Size
Number
Location

Sound

Taste

Shape
 What are the key ideas of indirect realism?

How do we know primary qualities

are in the object?
•They can be objectively measured
using mathematics
•They are essential to the nature of
the object
•They are known by more than one
sense

Back to our orange…

If Locke is right, which
qualities are in the object
and which are just in our
minds?
 What are the key ideas of indirect realism?
Sense Data

Person Representation Object

Mental Image
We have no direct perception of the external world
We perceive a mental representation of the external world – Sense Data
Sense Data are caused by the external world, but are not identical to it
Objects have PRIMARY QUALITIES – these are the qualities the object actually has
regardless of how it is being perceived, or whether it is being perceived

Objects have SECONDARY QUALTITIES – these are qualities caused by the object but do
not resemble the object – they are a product of the way our senses work
 Do we know that primary qualities exist in
the external world?
As an empiricist, Locke claims that all knowledge must be justified using the senses.

He also claims that we do not have direct access to the external world.

Therefore, the immediate objects of perception are sense data. Is there a problem?

Sense Data

V
E
I
L

Person Representation Object

Mental Image
 Do we know that primary qualities exist in
the external world?
As an empiricist, Locke claims that all knowledge must be justified using the senses.

He also claims that we do not have direct access to the external world.

Therefore, the immediate objects of perception are sense data. Is there a problem?

To know that physical objects cause sense-data, we

first have to know that physical objects exist. How
can we know this, when the only access we have to
physical objects is through our sense-data?

If we want to show if primary qualities really are in the external world we would
need to compare reality with the representations (sense-data). But we don’t
have independent access to reality. We can’t check using our senses!
 Do we know that primary qualities exist in
the external world?
As an empiricist, Locke claims that all knowledge must be justified using the senses.

He also claims that we do not have direct access to the external world.

Therefore, the immediate objects of perception are sense data. Is there a problem?
Yes – Sense-data is like a ‘veil of perception’.

Can scepticism about

Coherence of the existence of the Involuntary
the senses external world be nature of our
(Locke and Trotter
overcome? experience
Cockburn) (Locke)

1. Explain each of these replies and how

they respond to the problem External world
is the ‘best
2. Do they show that we have good hypothesis’
reason to know what the external world (Russell)
is like?
 Do we know that primary qualities exist in
the external world?
As an empiricist, Locke claims that all knowledge must be justified using the senses.
Are any of these ‘better
He also claims that we do not have direct access to the external world.
explanations’ for the
Therefore, the immediatecause
objectsof our sense-data?
of perception are sense data. Is there a problem?
Yes – Sense-data is like a ‘veil of perception’.

Can scepticism about

Coherence of the existence of the Involuntary
the senses external world be nature of our
(Locke and Trotter
overcome? experience
Cockburn) (Locke)

1. Explain each of these replies and how

the respond to the problem

2. Do they show that we have good

Elon Musk interview: “The chances we are not livin
reason to know what the external world g in a computer simulation is ‘one in billions’ “
is like?
 Short exam-style questions
1. In his theory of indirect realism, how does Locke define sense-data? [3 marks]

2. What is the difference between primary and secondary qualities? [3 marks]

3. Explain why, for Locke, colour is a secondary quality? [5 marks]

4. Explain the argument that indirect realism leads to scepticism about the existence
of mind-independent objects. [5 marks]

5. Explain the similarities and differences between direct realism and indirect realism.
[12 marks]

6. Explain the argument that indirect realism leads to scepticism about the existence
of mind-independent objects and Trotter Cockburn’s response about the
coherence of the senses. [12 marks]