Perception

Robert Schwartz is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. He is the author of Vision: Variations on Some Berkeleian Themes (Blackwell, 1994), and has published widely on issues in cognition and perception.

"Perception is an outstanding introduction to the conceptual and theoretical problems of visual perception. Robert Schwartz has integrated a well-balanced collection of clear and thought-provoking writings from influential philosophers and psychologists, extending from Aristotle to the present. Perception is essential reading for students of the philosophy and psychology of visual perception."—Donald D. Hoffman, University of California, Irvine"This anthology is unique in combining substantial readings in the psychology and philosophy of visual perception. Through judicious selection, it surveys the historical background from Aristotle to Koffka, then represents in depth the variety of contemporary issues and positions. It will serve as a strong backbone for courses in philosophy of perception or visual studies."—Gary Hatfield, University of Pennsylvania

• AcknowledgmentsIntroductionPart I: Historical BackgroundIntroduction1. From On The SoulAristotle2. From An Essay Towards A New Theory Of VisionGeorge Berkeley3. From Essays On The Intellectual Powers Of ManThomas Reid4. From The Philosophy Of The EnlightenmentErnst Cassirer5. From Elements Of PhysiologyJohannes Müller6. From Treatise On Physiological OpticsHermann Von Helmholtz7. From Principles Of Gestalt PsychologyKurt KoffkaPart II: The SensesIntroduction8. From The Senses Considered As Perceptual Systems And The Ecological Approach To Visual PerceptionJames J. Gibson9. From In And Out Of The Black BoxDavid W. Hamlyn10. From Perception And CognitionJohn Heil11. From The WillBrian O'Shaughnessy12. From The Analysis Of SensationErnst Mach13. From Molyneux's QuestionMichael J. Morgan14. Molyneux's QuestionGareth EvansPart III: Direct Versus Indirect Theories of PerceptionIntroduction15. A Theory Of Direct Perception And From The Ecological Approach To PerceptionJames J. Gibson16. How Direct Is Visual Perception?Jerry A. Fodor and Zenon W. Pylyshyn17. Inference In PerceptionIrvin Rock18. Is The Visual System As Smart As It Looks?Patricia Smith Churchland19. Tacit Assumptions In The Computational Study Of VisionSimon Ullman20. 'Why Do Things Look As They Do?'William EpsteinPart IV: Perception and ConceptionIntroduction21. Seeing, Believing, And KnowingFred Dretske22. From WittgensteinRobert Fogelin23. From Patterns Of DiscoveryNorwood Russell Hanson24. Analogue ContentChristopher Peacocke25. Where Perceiving Ends And Thinking BeginsElizabeth S. Spelke26. Seeing Is Believing—Or Is It?Daniel C. DennettIndex