William writes: > perception is our construction of sensation. So whatever is out there is > mediated by perception. That's one reason we devise various ways to "correct" > our perceptions. > > This stipulated way to use the word 'perceive' would fit the view of Michael and me:
"As for 'perceive': When we > encounter a material object and "sense" with our > various senses, we say we're > perceiving the object." But I infer you would add something. You are suggesting we should save the word "perceiving" for something more than just "sensing". To be perceived, an object would have to be not just sensed but "construed", "interpreted". Thus perhaps you would say that the first time a child encounters an automobile, she may sense it but she can't perceive it? Or perhaps you have a narrower notion in mind: Perceiving is constructing in the mind a notion of an object that is the unified, single "source" of all the sensations. The auto is the source of this sight, this sound, this smell...? > > > > > What is it that we perceive? Undifferentiated raw > > material? a whole > > > bunch of substance? Or do we project objectness from > > our interior > > > thinking? > > > > > > No. Objects are already differentiated in nature, and > > our sensory > > > organs are able to perceive them, to distinguish one > > from the other, > > > and parts within individual objects. > > > > > Depending on what you have in mind with the word > > 'perceive', I agree with > > you. I think there are raw material objects "out > > there", and they are > > "differentiated", "separate". > > 'Parts', by the way, entails a stipulative > > notion. How many > > "parts" does your face have? > > > > As for 'perceive', some use the word as you and I > > tend to do. When we > > encounter a material object and "sense" with our > > various senses, we say we're > > perceiving the object. Others say, No, no -- we can only > > "perceive" > > sensations. The > > distinction is effectively vacuous, just a disagreement > > about how to use a > > word. > ************** You're invited to Hollywood's biggest party: Get Oscars updates, red carpet pics and more at Moviefone. (http://movies.aol.com/oscars-academy-awards?ncid=emlcntusmovi00000001)
