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Perception and Idealism

An Essay on How the World Manifests Itself to Us, and How It (Probably) Is in Itself

Howard Robinson (Professor Emeritus in Philosophy, Central European University, Vienna)

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English
Oxford University Press
09 February 2023
Perception and Idealism takes up two long-standing philosophical problems: how perception makes objects manifest to us, and what the world must be like for objects to be manifest in that way. Part I addresses the nature of perception. A detailed discussion of contemporary versions of naïve realist and of intentionalist theories is provided, and refutations offered of both. Robinson argues that sense-datum theory is not subject to any of the vices normally attributed to it, but in fact allows one to say that we directly perceive objects as being the way that they naturally manifest themselves to creatures like us. The sense-datum theory can be reconciled with a form of direct realism, once one understands properly the cognitive and the phenomenal components in perception, a relationship which intentionalist theories confuse. As perception makes us aware of objects as they manifest themselves to us, this leaves open the question of what they are like in themselves. This is the topic of Part II. A variety of realist conceptions of the material world are considered and found to be either empty or less plausible than idealism: the 'powers' conception of matter, Lewis's quiddities, Esfeld's 'matter points', and quantum theory. The problem of giving a realist account of space is also developed. Turning to mentalist options, simple phenomenalism and panpsychism are discussed and rejected. Robinson concludes that Berkeley's theistic phenomenalism, or idealism, is the most plausible account.

By:  
Imprint:   Oxford University Press
Country of Publication:   United Kingdom
Dimensions:   Height: 242mm,  Width: 162mm,  Spine: 20mm
Weight:   1g
ISBN:   9780192845566
ISBN 10:   019284556X
Pages:   256
Publication Date:  
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  Undergraduate
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active

Howard Robinson is Professor Emeritus in Philosophy at Central European University, Vienna. He is also Research Fellow at Blackfriars Hall, Oxford, and Senior Fellow, Rutgers Center for Philosophy of Religion. He was educated at Manchester Grammar School and Corpus Christi College, Oxford. He previously held positions at the University of Nottingham, Oriel College, Oxford, University of Liverpool, and Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest.

Reviews for Perception and Idealism: An Essay on How the World Manifests Itself to Us, and How It (Probably) Is in Itself

Robinson's book is clearly and beautifully written, and argumentatively persuasive ... a refreshing blast of curative air breathed into the dank enclosures of Direct Realism, Disjunctivism and Reductive Representationalism. * David Pitt, California State University, Los Angeles * Robinson argues for a kind of idealism, providing well-organized, well-documented discussions of both early modern and recent philosophers' views on the nature of perception and its relationship to the world. * Choice *


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