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14
0
cion ratna
06/10/2025
Religious Studies
Indirect Realism
320
•
6 Oct 2025
•
cion ratna
@cionratna_bchd
Indirect realismis a philosophical theory about perception that argues... Show more
Indirect realism faces several philosophical challenges that call into question its ability to provide a coherent account of perception and knowledge.
The perceptual variation argument highlights how the same object can produce different sensations under different conditions. This raises doubts about whether these qualities truly belong to the object itself.
Example: The same water can feel both cold and warm to different hands simultaneously, suggesting temperature may not be an intrinsic property of the water.
A more serious issue is that indirect realism may lead to skepticism about the existence of mind-independent objects. Since we only directly perceive sense data, we must infer the existence of external objects.
Highlight: The possibility of scenarios like being a brain in a vat or deceived by an evil demon shows that our sense data could be identical even if no external world existed.
This skeptical challenge suggests that indirect realism may undermine our ability to claim knowledge about the external world, as we cannot conclusively rule out such skeptical scenarios.
A significant challenge to indirect realism is the "veil of perception" problem, which questions our ability to know what the real world is truly like.
The core issue is that we cannot directly compare our sense data to the external objects they supposedly represent. This creates an unbridgeable gap between appearance and reality.
Quote: "We cannot compare them as we only have direct access to sense data and not to material objects as they are in themselves."
This problem may lead to an even more radical skepticism about the very existence of a mind-independent material world. If we are only directly aware of mental representations, how can we be certain that anything exists beyond them?
Highlight: The veil of perception problem threatens to undermine not just our knowledge of the external world, but our justification for believing it exists at all.
Berkeley's critique of Locke's primary/secondary quality distinction further challenges indirect realism. He argues that even supposedly primary qualities like size and shape are subject to perceptual variation.
Example: An object's perceived size changes with distance, and its shape can appear different when viewed through a microscope.
Berkeley concludes that if primary qualities are as variable as secondary qualities, then Locke's distinction collapses. This poses a significant challenge to indirect realism's attempt to ground our knowledge of the external world.
Indirect realism philosophy posits that we do not directly perceive external objects, but only mental representations or appearances of them. This view has significant implications for epistemology and metaphysics.
John Locke proposed an influential distinction between primary and secondary qualities of objects. Primary qualities like size and shape are thought to resemble properties of the actual object, while secondary qualities like color and taste do not.
Definition: Primary qualities are essential properties of objects that exist mind-independently, such as size, shape, motion, and solidity.
Example: The shape of an apple is a primary quality that exists regardless of whether it is perceived, while its redness is a secondary quality that depends on perception.
Locke argued that primary qualities are inseparable from objects, even when divided into imperceptible parts. This forms the basis of an a priori argument for their mind-independent existence.
Highlight: Locke's distinction between primary and secondary qualities attempts to reconcile the apparent mismatch between our perceptions and reality.
Secondary qualities, in contrast, are viewed as powers objects have to produce certain ideas in us, rather than intrinsic properties of the objects themselves.
Vocabulary: Secondary qualities are properties like color, taste, and smell that are thought to exist only in the mind of the perceiver.
Critics have pointed out potential issues with this distinction, noting that primary qualities may also depend on our perceptual apparatus in ways similar to secondary qualities.
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The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
cion ratna
@cionratna_bchd
Indirect realism is a philosophical theory about perception that argues we do not directly perceive external objects, but only mental representations of them. This view has important implications for our understanding of reality and knowledge.
Key points:
• Distinguishes between... Show more
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Indirect realism faces several philosophical challenges that call into question its ability to provide a coherent account of perception and knowledge.
The perceptual variation argument highlights how the same object can produce different sensations under different conditions. This raises doubts about whether these qualities truly belong to the object itself.
Example: The same water can feel both cold and warm to different hands simultaneously, suggesting temperature may not be an intrinsic property of the water.
A more serious issue is that indirect realism may lead to skepticism about the existence of mind-independent objects. Since we only directly perceive sense data, we must infer the existence of external objects.
Highlight: The possibility of scenarios like being a brain in a vat or deceived by an evil demon shows that our sense data could be identical even if no external world existed.
This skeptical challenge suggests that indirect realism may undermine our ability to claim knowledge about the external world, as we cannot conclusively rule out such skeptical scenarios.
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
A significant challenge to indirect realism is the "veil of perception" problem, which questions our ability to know what the real world is truly like.
The core issue is that we cannot directly compare our sense data to the external objects they supposedly represent. This creates an unbridgeable gap between appearance and reality.
Quote: "We cannot compare them as we only have direct access to sense data and not to material objects as they are in themselves."
This problem may lead to an even more radical skepticism about the very existence of a mind-independent material world. If we are only directly aware of mental representations, how can we be certain that anything exists beyond them?
Highlight: The veil of perception problem threatens to undermine not just our knowledge of the external world, but our justification for believing it exists at all.
Berkeley's critique of Locke's primary/secondary quality distinction further challenges indirect realism. He argues that even supposedly primary qualities like size and shape are subject to perceptual variation.
Example: An object's perceived size changes with distance, and its shape can appear different when viewed through a microscope.
Berkeley concludes that if primary qualities are as variable as secondary qualities, then Locke's distinction collapses. This poses a significant challenge to indirect realism's attempt to ground our knowledge of the external world.
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Indirect realism philosophy posits that we do not directly perceive external objects, but only mental representations or appearances of them. This view has significant implications for epistemology and metaphysics.
John Locke proposed an influential distinction between primary and secondary qualities of objects. Primary qualities like size and shape are thought to resemble properties of the actual object, while secondary qualities like color and taste do not.
Definition: Primary qualities are essential properties of objects that exist mind-independently, such as size, shape, motion, and solidity.
Example: The shape of an apple is a primary quality that exists regardless of whether it is perceived, while its redness is a secondary quality that depends on perception.
Locke argued that primary qualities are inseparable from objects, even when divided into imperceptible parts. This forms the basis of an a priori argument for their mind-independent existence.
Highlight: Locke's distinction between primary and secondary qualities attempts to reconcile the apparent mismatch between our perceptions and reality.
Secondary qualities, in contrast, are viewed as powers objects have to produce certain ideas in us, rather than intrinsic properties of the objects themselves.
Vocabulary: Secondary qualities are properties like color, taste, and smell that are thought to exist only in the mind of the perceiver.
Critics have pointed out potential issues with this distinction, noting that primary qualities may also depend on our perceptual apparatus in ways similar to secondary qualities.
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Our AI Companion is a student-focused AI tool that offers more than just answers. Built on millions of Knowunity resources, it provides relevant information, personalised study plans, quizzes, and content directly in the chat, adapting to your individual learning journey.
You can download the app from Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
That's right! Enjoy free access to study content, connect with fellow students, and get instant help – all at your fingertips.
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The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
