Indirect Realism

Indirect Realism

The view that the immediate objects of perception are mind-dependent sense-data that are caused by and represent mind-independent objects.

Sense-data

The contents of perceptual experience (e.g. colour patches, shapes, sounds).

Locke’s Primary Qualities

Properties that exist in the object itself, such as shape, size, and motion.

Locke’s Secondary Qualities

Properties that exist only in the mind of the perceiver, such as colour, taste, smell, and sound.

Scepticism problem for Indirect Realism

If we are only directly aware of sense-data, then we never directly perceive physical objects and cannot be certain that mind-independent objects exist.

Locke’s argument from the involuntary nature of perception

Perceptions cannot be controlled in the way imagination can, suggesting they are caused by something external to the mind, namely mind-independent objects.

Argument from the coherence of experience

Different senses provide consistent information about the same object, suggesting an external object is causing these experiences.

External world as the best hypothesis

Belief in an external world best explains and organises our perceptual experiences, whereas denying it leads to extreme scepticism.

Berkeley’s resemblance objection

Sense-data cannot resemble mind-independent objects because mental things cannot resemble physical things, so indirect realism cannot explain how sense-data represent the external world.