Assess Indirect Realism (25 marks)

Intro

Indirect Realism = the immediate objects of perception are mind-dependent properties that are caused by and represent mind-independent objects

Sense Data = mind-dependent, perceived directly, variable, private

Objects = mind-independent, perceived indirectly, objective, public access

Argument: IR accounts for perceptions best, scepticism remains strong argument so theory is not certain

Paragraph 1: Locke vs Berkeley

P - Distinction between primary and secondary qualities

E - Locke’s argument + grain of what example

A - Berekley’s Argument + ideas vs objects

C - Objects only resemble each other, are not identical

E - IR remains

Paragraph 2: Scepticism vs Russel’s External World

P - Scepticism

E - Veil of perception argument, no accuracy

A - Russel’s External World Hypothesis

C - Treat objects’ existence like a hypothesis - best explanation

E - still no certainty, scepticism remains

Paragraph 3: Locke vs Scepticism

P - The coherence of different senses

E - Locke’s Argument - they confirm one another

A - Scepticism’s Response of misrepresentation

C - Direct Realism accounts for this better

E - DR doesn’t account for hallucinations, whereas IR does - better explanation but not proven

Key Terms

• Indirect Realism = the immediate objects of perception are mind-dependent properties that are caused by and represent mind-independent objects

• Sense Data = mind-dependent, perceived directly, variable, private

• Objects = mind-independent, perceived indirectly, objective, public

• Primary Qualities = properties inherent in the object itself, objective, measurable, e.g. size

• Secondary Qualities = powers of an object to cause sensations in humans, subjective, not essential to the object, e.g. sense data

• Hypothesis = unproven claim/theory