A Critical Introduction to the Epistemology of Perception

185 Pages·2017·1.991 MB·English

by  Hasan, Ali M.

Bloomsbury Academic
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First published 2017
© Ali Hasan, 2017
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British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
ISBN: HB: 978-1-4725-3495-8
PB: 978-1-4725-2659-5
ePDF: 978-1-4725-3353-1
ePub: 978-1-4725-2657-1
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Hasan, Ali M., 1974-
Title: A critical introduction to the epistemology of perception / Ali Hasan.
Description: New York : Bloomsbury Academic, 2017. | Series: Bloomsbury
critical introductions to contemporary epistemology ; 8 | Includes
bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2016038202| ISBN 9781472534958 (hb) | ISBN 9781472533531
(epdf)
Subjects: LCSH: Perception (Philosophy) | Knowledge, Theory of.
Classification: LCC B828.45 .H37 2017 | DDC 121/.34--dc23 LC record available at https://
lccn.loc.gov/2016038202
Series: Bloomsbury Critical Introductions to Contemporary Epistemology
Cover design: Louise Dugdale
Cover image © Philip Habib/Gallerystock
Typeset by Fakenham Prepress Solutions, Fakenham, Norfolk NR21 8NN
A Critical
Introduction to the
Epistemology of
Perception
BLOOMSBURY CRITICAL INTRODUCTIONS TO
CONTEMPORARY EPISTEMOLOGY
Series Editor:
Stephen Hetherington, Professor of Philosophy,
The University of New South Wales, Australia
Editorial Board:
Claudio de Almeida, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul,
Brazil; Richard Fumerton, The University of Iowa, USA; John Greco, Saint
Louis University, USA; Jonathan Kvanvig, Baylor University, USA; Ram
Neta, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, USA; Duncan Pritchard, The
University of Edinburgh, UK
Bloomsbury Critical Introductions to Contemporary Epistemology introduces
and advances the central topics within one of the most dynamic areas of
contemporary philosophy.
Each critical introduction provides a comprehensive survey to an important
epistemic subject, covering the historical, methodological, and practical
contexts and exploring the major approaches, theories, and debates. By
clearly illustrating the changes to the ways human knowledge is being
studied, each volume places an emphasis on the historical background and
makes important connections between contemporary issues and the wider
history of modern philosophy.
Designed for use on contemporary epistemology courses, the introductions
are defined by a clarity of argument and equipped with easy-to-follow
chapter summaries, annotated guides to reading, and glossaries to
facilitate and encourage further study. This series is ideal for upper-level
undergraduates and postgraduates wishing to stay informed of the thinkers,
issues, and arguments shaping twenty-first century epistemology.
Titles in the series include:
A Critical Introduction to the Epistemology of Memory, Thomas D. Senor
A Critical Introduction to Knowledge-How, J. Adam Carter and Ted Poston
A Critical Introduction to Formal Epistemology, Darren Bradley
A Critical Introduction to Scientific Realism, Paul Dicken
A Critical Introduction to Skepticism, Allan Hazlett
A Critical Introduction to Testimony, Axel Gelfert
A Critical
Introduction to the
Epistemology of
Perception
ALI HASAN
Bloomsbury Academic
An imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
For my father, Majed Hasan (1950–2011),
and my mother, Jamilla AlQaseer
vi
Contents
Preface viii
1 Skepticism and foundationalism in early modern philosophy 1
2 Realism, idealism, and common sense 13
3 Perceptual experience 31
4 An introduction to contemporary epistemology 53
5 Coherentism 73
6 Abductivism 85
7 Phenomenal conservatism 101
8 Access internalism, mentalism, and reliabilism 117
9 Epistemological disjunctivism 137
Conclusion 149
Notes 155
References 163
Index 171
Preface
This book offers an introduction to the epistemology of perception
intended for students with some exposure to philosophy, but who may
be unfamiliar with the epistemology of perception, or with metaphysical or
epistemological debates in general. The book is heavily influenced by survey
courses I have taught in epistemology, at various levels, and by upper-level
courses focused on the epistemology of perception. I find in these contexts
that the students benefit greatly from having both (i) accessible, relatively
short but critical discussions of the relevant backgrounds, theories, central
principles, and arguments, coupled with (ii) primary readings and articles. The
book was written with this in mind, and so is best paired with readings for
each chapter. Each chapter ends with some suggestions for further reading,
and questions for reflection and discussion.
My intention is to present the material in an informative, clear and acces-
sible manner, without too much technical detail. But I also wanted to provoke
the reader, and for this reason I do not shy away from criticism and contro-
versy, and from letting my own voice enter the text now and again, while
leaving a number of dialectical or argumentative routes open for students to
pursue on their own. Given the immense and growing size of the literature in
the field and the many important and fascinating issues within it, I have had to
be somewhat selective, both in terms of what theories and themes to focus
on, and in terms of the particular arguments and objections to discuss. There
are major, recurring themes throughout, and enough of an overall narrative
and structure that the reader should, I hope, be able to see the forest and
navigate a bit better through the trees.
The examination of debates in the epistemology of perception is preceded
by an overview of (i) some background to epistemological and (to a lesser
extent) metaphysical problems of perception in early modern philosophy
(Chapters 1 and 2), (ii) theories of perceptual experience (Chapter 3), and
(iii) some central questions and controversies in epistemology (Chapter 4).
This prepares readers unfamiliar with the relevant history, key concepts,
and related debates in epistemology and the philosophy of mind. More
experienced readers can review parts of the background more selectively,
depending on their needs and interests, and jump ahead to the chapters on
contemporary theories in the epistemology of perception.
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PREfACE ix
Each of the chapters on epistemological theories clarifies, motivates,
and evaluates the theory, highlighting its answers to some of the following
questions: Are perceptual beliefs justified, and if so, in virtue of what are they
justified? Can the theory accommodate foundational beliefs about the external
world? Does it capture the internalist intuition that a belief must depend for
its justification on the subject’s possession of or access to reasons in favor
of its truth? Does it preserve the intuitive idea that epistemic justification is
tightly connected to the truth? Does it provide a satisfactory response to the
skeptical challenge, one that takes skepticism seriously without acceding to
it? Each theory examined yields intuitive, positive answers to some of these
questions, but has difficulty with others.
I would like to thank my family and friends, colleagues and students,
who have helped make this book possible. I am grateful to my teachers at
the University of Washington in Seattle, where I began to work on issues
in the epistemology of perception as a graduate student, especially Larry
BonJour, Ann Baker, Andrea Woody, and Bill Talbott; and to colleagues and
students at the University of Iowa, with whom I have discussed many of the
topics covered here—especially Richard Fumerton, who also provided helpful
comments on an earlier draft. I would also like to thank Andrew Wardell and
Colleen Coalter at Bloomsbury, and the series editor, Stephen Hetherington,
for their encouragement and flexibility; and an anonymous reviewer for
detailed comments and suggestions.
I am also grateful to Sarah McElligott for all her patience and support; to
my children Leila, Elyas, and Jude, for being the best of distractions, and for
providing lovely and vital time away from work. I would also like to thank
Jennifer Kayle for providing me with much love and support when I most
desperately needed it.
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