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Single Idea 4103

[filed under theme 12. Knowledge Sources / B. Perception / 8. Adverbial Theory ]

Full Idea

The Adverbial Theory of perception holds that the predicates which other theories take as picking out the properties of objects are really adverbs of the perceptual verb; ..instead of strange objects, we just have properties of experiences.

Clarification

'Adverbial' because we don't see a blue object, we 'see bluely'

Gist of Idea

The adverbial theory of perceptions says it is the experiences which have properties, not the objects

Source

Tim Crane (Elements of Mind [2001], 5.42)

Book Ref

Crane,Tim: 'Elements of Mind' [OUP 2001], p.138


A Reaction

Promising. It fits secondary qualities all right, but what about primary? I 'see bluely', but can I 'see squarely'?


The 12 ideas with the same theme [qualities are not objects but ways in which a perception occurs]:

'I feel depressed' is more like 'he runs slowly' than like 'he has a red book' [Chisholm]
If we can say a man senses 'redly', why not also 'rectangularly'? [Chisholm]
So called 'sense-data' are best seen as 'modifications' of the person experiencing them [Chisholm]
The adverbial account of sensation says not 'see a red image' but be 'appeared to redly' [Shoemaker]
The adverbial account will still be needed when a mind apprehends its sense-data [Bonjour]
'Sense redly' sounds peculiar, but 'senses redly-squarely tablely' sounds far worse [Robinson,H]
Adverbialism sees the contents of sense-experience as modes, not objects [Robinson,H]
If there are only 'modes' of sensing, then an object can no more be red or square than it can be proud or lazy. [Robinson,H]
The adverbial theory of perceptions says it is the experiences which have properties, not the objects [Crane]
How could one paraphrase very complex sense-data reports adverbially? [Lowe]
Mountains are adverbial modifications of the earth, but still have object-characteristics [Maund]
Adverbialism tries to avoid sense-data and preserve direct realism [Maund]