Perception (Problems of Philosophy) [Paperback]

Howard Robinson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 25, 2001 | ISBN-10: 0415249937 | ISBN-13: 978-0415249935

Questions about perception remain some of the most difficult and insoluble in both epistemology and in the philosophy of mind. This controversial but highly accessible introduction to the area explores the philosophical importance of those questions by re-examining what had until recent times been the most popular theory of perception - the sense-datum theory. Howard Robinson surveys the history of the arguments for and against the theory from Descartes to Husserl. He then shows that the objections to the theory, particularly Wittgenstein's attack on privacy and those of the physicalists, have been unsuccessful. He argues that we should return to the theory sense-data in order to understand perception. In doing so he seeks to overturn a consensus that has dominated the philosophy of perception for nearly half a century.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'Robinson presents ..[his].. argument, in both its constructive and critical aspects, with great skill. It is very valuable to have a defence of sense data by someone who is well acquainted with and has thought deeply about, recent criticisms and alternatives ... anyone interested in the philosophy of perception should read this book and consider it.' - Times Literary Supplement

'Howard Robinson's book brings boldly forward the challenges that have been mounting against one of the most - if not the most entrenched of received opinions, namely, the discountenancing of any notion of an internal sensory experience. An incisive and near-comprehensive survey of the opposing arguments from a phenomenalist position'

'It presents a battery of considerations which should provoke theorists who are dismissive of sense-datum theory to review the details of their position, and it helpfully brings together neglected material from the literature.' - Philosophical Quarterly

About the Author

Howard Robinson is Senior Lecturer in Philosophy at the University of Liverpool and a Professor of Philosophy at the Central European University. He is the author of Matter and Sense (1996) and editor of Objections to Physicalism (1996).

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Routledge (February 25, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0415249937
• ISBN-13: 978-0415249935
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,354,094 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars the complete argument, March 28, 2010

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Roger Lafleur "percept puzzled" (CA.) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Perception (Problems of Philosophy) (Paperback)

Robinson offers a complete review of the major arguments against direct realism, advebialism, intentional theories and surveys the classic representational theories of the early empiricists. He concludes that a sense data theory (now unpopular with most philosophers) can answer the various problems which plague the other theories. Closely argued and needs attentive reading but not overly difficult to understand for someone with some prior philosphical readings. Though only an interested layman I highly recommend this book evemn though I lean toward direct realism myself. This book will make a great reference; for those interested in a contrary view I recommend David Kelly's "The Evidence of the Senses" a DR position. OLDROGER